orchestral works Archive
MOSZKOWSKI: From Foreign Lands – Rediscovered Orchestral Works – SF Ballet Orch./ Martin West – Reference Recordings
A delightful set of rediscovered orchestral works of Moszkowski. MORITZ MOSZKOWSKI: From Foreign Lands – Rediscovered Orchestral Works [TrackList follows] – San Francisco Ballet Orch./ Martin West – Reference Recordings HDCD RR-138, 72:45 [Distr. by Naxos] ****: Although Moszkowski composed an opera, ballet, three orchestral suites, a symphony, songs, concertos, and chamber music, if this neglected composer is given any attention at all it is for his salon-type piano compositions. He arranged some of these for full orchestra, and the first five selections on this CD are those. The other two were orchestrated by others in 1912 and 1884. Four of the Moszkowski selections are world premiere recordings. These are memorable and melodious orchestral compositions which, especially in their full orchestra versions, seem much more than mere salon pieces from the 19th century. The opening Torch Dance is based on a tradition at some German weddings in a certain area of a dance with torches featured. The From Foreign Lands is a nearly half-hour suite which has been a San Francisco Ballet performance. This ballet orchestra is one of the leading ones in the world, and the excellent recording was made in the low-noise environment of Skywalker Sound with engineer […]
PIERNE: Orchestral Works, Vol. 2 = BBC Philharmonic – Chandos
Pianist Bavouzet and conductor Mena revisit the music of Pierne with effective results. PIERNE: Orchestral Works, Vol. 2 = Paysages franciscains, Op. 43; Les Cathedrales; Scherzo-Caprice, Op. 25; Poeme symphonique, Op. 37; Fantasie-Ballet, Op. 6; Nocturne en forme de valse, Op. 40, No. 2; Etude de concert, Op. 13 – Jean-Efflam Bavouzet, p./ BBC Philharmonic/ Juanjo Mena – Chandos CHAN 10871, 72:58 (9/25/15) [Distr. by Naxos] ****: A celebrated pupil of Cesar Franck and Jules Massenet, Gabriel Pierne (1863-1937) established himself early, winning first prize for piano performance (1879) and later, in 1882, the coveted Prix de Rome. Pianist Jean-Efflam Bavouzet, as a complement to his having recorded the Pierne Piano Concerto in c minor (CHAN 10633), decided to explore the Pierne oeuvre further with conductor Juanjo Mena, inscribing (17-19 July 2014) another series of works meant to expand our general familiarity with his legacy. Though immersed in his duties as conductor of the Colonne Orchestra, Pierne had found time for composition, having written an oratorio on the life of St. Francis of Assisi, even as the clouds of WW I had begun to form over Europe’s skies. The Paysages franciscains (1919) reflect much of the Debussy syntax, set […]
VYTAUTAS BACEVIĈIUS: Orchestral Works, Volume 1 = Piano Concerto No. 3; Piano Concerto No. 4 “Symphonie Concertante”; Spring Suite – Gabrielius Alekna, p./ Lithuanian Nat. Sym. Orch./ Christopher Lyndon-Gee – Naxos
Interesting works that may struggle to rise above the level of curiosity.
RAVEL: “Orchestal Works” = Le Tombeau de Couperin; Menuet antique; Ma mère l’oye; Valses nobles et sentimentale; Une barque sur l’océan – BSO /Seiji Ozawa – PentaTone
Another excellent addition to this important series.
FIBICH: Orchestral Works, Vol. 3 = Othello; Zaboj, Slavoj, and Ludek; Toman and the Wood Nymph; The Tempest; Spring – Czech National Sym. Orch./ Marek Stilec – Naxos
The orchestral music of Fibich follows Liszt and Smetana in his own terms, often poignant and powerful.
RAVEL: “Orchestral Works 2” = Valses nobles et sentimentales; Gaspard de la nuit; The Tomb of Couperin; La Valse – Orch. Nat. de Lyon/ Leonard Slatkin – Naxos audio-only Blu-ray
The second volume on audio-only Blu-ray of Ravel’s orchestral works is a winner.
HOLST: Orchestral Works, Vol. 3 = The Mystic Trumpeter; First Choral Symphony – Susan Gritton, sop./ BBC Sym. Orch. and Chorus/ Sir Andrew Davis – Chandos
An excellent recording of these lesser known Holst works.
LALO: “Orchestral Works” = Le Roi D’Ys; Symphonie Espagnole; Concerto Russe — Suisse Romande /Ernest Ansermet / Issac Stern/ Philadelphia Orch. / Ormandy/ Gérard Poulet /Czech Radio Sym./ Vladimer Válek — Praga Digitals
A fine stereo-only SACD of excellent performances in stereo from 1956 to 1994.
DEBUSSY: “Orchestral Works Vol. II” = Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun; Images; La Boite a joujoux (The Toy Box) – Rosenthal & Ansermet cond. – Praga Digitals
A nice addition to the Debussy Images already available on SACD.
SVENDSEN: Orchestral Works, Volume 3 = Bergen Philharmonic/ Neeme Järvi – ChandosRIISAGER: Thy Symphonic Edition, Volume 2 = Aarhus Sym. Orch./ Bo Holton – Dacapo
Two important series, two engaging new installments.
MARTIN BOYKAN, ‘Orchestral Works’ = Concerto for Violin and Orch.; Symphony for Orch. – Curtis Macomber, violin/Sanford Sylvan, bar. /Boston Modern Orch. Project/Gil Rose – BMOP Sound
Another fascinating addition from the hyper-adventurous BMOP.
ATTERBERG: “Orchestral Works, Volume 1” = ‘Dollar Symphony’; En värmlandsrapsodi; Suite No. 3; Symphony No. 4 – Gothenburg Sym. Orch. /Neeme Järvi – Chandos
Strong way to get to know this Swedish composer.
HENRI DUTILLEUX, “Orchestral Works II” = Symphony No.1; Tout un monde lointain; Timbres, Espace, Mouvement ou “La Nuit Etoilee” – Bordeaux Aquitaine Nat. Orch./Hans Graf – Arte Nova
Great introduction to this fascinating composer.
RAVEL: Orchestral Works Vol. 1 = Alborada del gracioso; Pavane pour une infante défunte; Rapsodie espagnole; Piéce en forme de habanera; Shéhérazade; Menuel antique; Boléro – Orch. Nat. de Lyon/ Leonard Slatkin – Naxos (audio-only Blu-ray)
Gorgeous three-channel fidelity in these Ravel orchestral works.
SAINT-SAENS: Orchestral Works = Danse bacchanale; Omphale’s Spinning Wheel; Phaeton; Dance macbre; Le Jenuesse d’Hercule; Marche militaire francaise; Ov. to “Le Princesse jaune”; A Night in Lisbon; Spartacus; Coronation March – Royal Scottish Nat. Orch./ Neemi Järvi – Chandos
A nice package of both familiar and obscure St.-Saens orchestral works in gorgeous surround sound.
* WITOLD LUTOSLAWSKI = Orchestral Works II – Louis Lortie, p./ BBC Sym. Orch./ Edward Gardner – Chandos
************ MULTICHANNEL DISC OF THE MONTH ************
The third volume of Muzyka Polska’s Lutoslawski series has probably the most listener appeal.
‘Light and Shadow – Modern Orchestral Works’ = Works of RAIN WORTHINGTON, REBECAA OSWALD, ADRIENNE ALBERT, TADD RUSSO, RUSS LOMBARDI & DANIEL PERTTU – Ohio State U. Sym. Orch./Haddock – Navona
Excellent compilation of pieces worth the listening and the researching!
WAGNER: Orchestral Works Volumes 1 and 2 – Dutch Radio Philharmonic Orchestra/ Edo de Waart, conductor – Exton 2 Multichannel SACDs, 78 min. OVCL-00153 (Vol. 1); 68 min. OVCL-00198 (Vol. 2)
The performances are first rate; the more rapidly-paced overtures are played with plenty of gusto, and the slower numbers are given beautifully expressive readings.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
