The story behind Robert Furstenthal’s music is compelling. It might even be the stuff of movies. But in the end, the music has to stand (or fall) on its own merits. The first part of Furstenthal’s story isn’t new. He was a young Jewish composer forced to flee when the Nazis annexed Austria. He emigrated […]
contemporary classical music
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Alexander Moyzes Symphonies 11 & 12 – fitting finales
This release completes Naxos’ reissue of Alexander Moyzes symphonies. Their sister label, Marco Polo, first released these recordings nineteen years ago. As I said in the reviews of the previous volumes, it’s good to have these works available again. Ladislav Slovak and the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra share the same cultural background as Moyzes. And […]
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Brouwer and Bellinati Concertos: masterworks masterfully played
This release features world premiere recordings of two works by master guitarists played by two master guitarists. Music by Cuban guitarist Leo Brouwer has become mainstays of the repertoire. His 2003 Book of Signs uses Western classical music as a foundation. The first movement deconstructs the theme to Beethoven’s 32 Variations in C minor. The […]
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Mieczyslaw Weinberg Symphony No. 13 – honest intensity
Mieczyslaw Weinberg’s 13th Symphony isn’t a pleasant work to listen to. But then, it’s not meant to be. Weinberg dedicated this 1979 work to the memory of his mother. She, along with Weinberg’s father and sister, perished in a Polish transit camp during WWII. Weinberg effectively translates his still-raw emotions into music. The symphony is […]
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Alexander Moyzes Symphonies Nos. 7 and 8 – Emotional Masterworks
This volume of Naxos’ Moyzes symphonic cycle includes two of his most emotional works. Moyzes was famous as a Slovak nationalist composer, blending folk music traditions seamlessly with classical forms. His Symphony No. 7 is no exception. This substantial work was dedicated to the memory of his young daughter. It’s as full of sorrow and […]
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Arnold Rosner Orchestral Music Vol. 3 – more, please
Toccata Classics continues their exploration of Arnold Rosner’s orchestral music. Volume Three presents three world premiere recordings. Each one a masterwork, and each (in my opinion) deserving more performances. Rosner was fascinated with Medieval and Renaissance music and often used pre-Baroque voice-leading and modal harmonies in his work. The 1978 Nocture is one such example. […]
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Alexander Moyzes Symphonies Nos. 5 & 6 – Popular reissues
This third volume of Alexander Moyzes symphonies features two of his most popular symphonies. Symphony No. 5 was dedicated to Moyzes father. Mikuláš Moyzes (1872–1944) was an early pioneer in creating a national style of classical composition. Alexander Moyzes demonstrates his mastery of this concept with this work. The symphony uses elements of his father’s […]
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David Diamond Symphony No. 6 worth the wait
David Diamond said, “You have to write music that will be loved.” This release presents three such examples. Diamond was arguably at his creative peak in the immediate postwar era. “Rounds for String Orchestra” (1944), “Music for Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet” (1947), and Symphony No. 6 (1951-54) all come from that period. Diamond was a […]
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Sergei Zhukov Concertos Suited to Soloists
Ukranian composer Sergei Zhukov wrote a series of three concertos, each dedicated to a different sister of The Bekova Trio. This release features the Piano Concerto written for Eleonora Bekova and the Violin Concerto, written for Elvira Bekova. Omitted is the Cello Concerto, composed for Alfia Bekova. Zhukov’s stated intent was to create concertos that […]