Symphony No. 2 (Balakirev)

Mily Balakirev began work on his Symphony No. 2 in D minor in 1900, but did not complete the work until 1908. The premiere of the symphony was conducted by Russian composer Sergei Liapunov, a student of Balakirev, in St. Petersburg in 1909. Another performance was held in Paris soon afterwards, but the piece has since become one of the lesser known symphonies in the repertoire.

The work features a standard, four-movement structure:

1. Allegro ma non troppo
2. Scherzo alla Cosacca: Allegro non troppo, ma con fuoco ed energico
3. Romanza: Andante
4. Finale: Tempo di Polacca