librettos Archive
FRANZ SCHREKER: Orchestral Music from the Operas – Royal Swedish Orch./ Lawrence Renes – BIS
The unfortunately almost forgotten composer Franz Schreker emphasized operas but these instrumental works from them show off his great musical art. FRANZ SCHREKER: Orchestral Music from the Operas [TrackList Follows] – Royal Swedish Orch./ Lawrence Renes – BIS multichannel SACD -2212, 68:30 (10/14/16) [Distr. by Naxos] *****: Franz Schreker was thought to be one of the most eminent composers for the sumptuous sonorities of his operas at his time, early in the 20th century. Schoenberg even called him one of the foremost. However, from the 1930s on, his music was in almost complete oblivion, partly due to the Nazis and his father being of Jewish descent. (This in spite of his operas being greatly influenced by Wagner.) He was also out of step with all avant music developments during the 1920s. Schreker usually wrote the librettos for his own operas, which often had symbolist and erotic subjects. More then other opera composers, the orchestral sections of his operas are often of greater importance when heard in concert. Schreker often intended the instrumental sections for independent concert use, showing off his musical wizardry. He often set his operas in medieval times, and the closing track: Nachtstück (Nocturne) was, in a slightly […]
Editorial for October 2015
For October our drawing is for six sets of the complete opera A Death in the Family, by William Mayer, as recorded by Albany Records. The original book is by James Agee, and the opera is considered one of the best and most poetical opera librettos ever. Although done by the Manhattan School of Music, nothing about the recording sounds the least bit like a conservatory effort. Diction is clear, the text settings are sensible, and this is a fine combination of folksong and whimsy. All your need to do is to register this month using our simple non-intrusive form, being sure to include your correct email and street address. The six winners will be announced in this space next month. Here are the three lucky winners of the Itzak Perlman 3-CD set, our September drawing: James Strange, Bellevue WA; David Hollingsworth, Fayetteville NC; Robert Rosenman, Derrfield Beach, FL. EDITORIAL AUDIOPHILE AUDITION began as a local program in San Francisco and then in 1985 as a weekly national radio series hosted by John Sunier, and aired for 13½ years on up to 200 public radio and commercial stations. In September 1998 its web site for program listings was expanded to this […]