Is it possible to tell the history of a country in music? Jan Paderewski thought so. He loved his native Poland — so much so he eventually became its prime minister. But before that, he composed his massive Symphony in B minor, “Polonia.” The work commemorates the 40th Anniversary of the January Uprising. In 1863 […]
Orchestral music
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Hendrik Andriessen Orchestral Music a Welcome Reissue
Hendrik Andriessen was one of the Netherland’s most important composers of the early 20th Century. His sons, Jurriaan and Louis Andressen would continue the tradition and become major composers of the late 20th Century. This release presents two albums previously released by NM Classics. And I’m glad to see them back in print. Disc one […]
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Robert Simpson Symphonies 5 & 6 – worth a listen
I first became aware of Robert Simpson through The Symphony. This two-volume work, edited by Simpson, was a collection of essays about the great symphonists and their music. Simpson not only knew how to write about symphonies, he knew how to write them. This release features two of his eleven symphonies, both dating from the 1970s. […]
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Peteris Vasks – Music for Strings deeply spiritual
In recommending music, I often say that if you enjoy Arvo Part, you should listen to Pēteris Vasks. Both composers come from the Baltic States, and both infuse their music with deep spirituality. Vasks’ music, like that of Part’s, ignores the “isms” of the 20th Century. What matters is the emotion the composer’s articulating. And […]
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Anton Arensky – Egyptian Nights suitably exotic
This recording of Anton Arensky’s ballet suite was originally released on Marco Polo in 1996. I’m glad to see it back in print. Arensky may not be a great composer (Rimsky-Korsakov didn’t think so), but he’s a very good one. And there’s a lot to like in this work. The ballet, which premiered in 1900, […]
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Theodor von Schacht Symphonies continue to entertain
Theodor von Schacht was appointed director of court music in Regensburg in 1773. It was a big deal. Regensburg was the seat of the Holy Roman Empire and the home of the Perpetual Diet. In 1663 the Diet convened. Fearing that the Emperor wouldn’t hold another, the body simply never adjourned, continually in session from […]
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Auber Overtures Volume Four – The Hits Keep Coming
Like the other three volumes, this Daniel-François-Esprit Auber release delights. Kudos to Dario Salvi for some innovative programming. Volume Four features three opera overtures, plus an unusual orchestral work. Most of these receive their world premiere recordings here. Fra Diavolo is Auber’s best-known (and most recorded) work. Dario Salvi’s interpretation of the overture compares favorably against […]
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Swedish Smorgasbord a feast of orchestral discoveries
Every person has a story. And every country has a musical tradition. In the 1970s Bo Hyttner ran the Sterling record store in Stockholm. He could see that Sweden’s musical story wasn’t being told. Classical labels would occasionally have the popular movement from Lars Erik Larsson’s “Winter’s Tale,” but little else. Sten Frykberg was conducting […]
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Daniel Jones Symphonies 3 & 5 tied to BBC
The relationship between Welsh composer Daniel Jones and the BBC was a close one. In the third installment of Daniel Jones’s symphonic recordings, Lyrita presents two prime examples. Symphony No. 3 was completed in 1951 and premiered the following year in a BBC broadcast. David Jones conducted the BBC Welsh Symphony Orchestra. Jones’ fifth symphony […]