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 […]
Orchestral music
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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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Charlottesville Symphony Season Ends Energetically
The final concert of the Charlottesville Symphony’s 2018-19 season started slowly and finished in triumph. It was quite a journey. The Saturday, April 24th concerto opened with Wagner’s Prelude from “Parsifal.” This is a quiet, introspective work that uses silence as an important element. The orchestra played beautifully, achieving a shimmering quality in some passages. […]
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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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Karl Goldmark Symphonic Poems, Vol. 1 – Off to a good start
Before I received this release, I really only knew two works by Karl Goldmark – his Rustic Wedding Symphony, and his First Violin Concerto. CPO’s new series of Goldmark Symphonic Poems is a welcome addition. Goldmark was a friend of Brahms and an admirer of Wagner. Both those influences can be heard in this collection […]
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Alexander Moyzes Symphonies 3 & 4 – Subtle Subversiveness
This release is the second reissue of Moyzes recordings from Naxos. The cycle was originally released on Marco Polo in 2000. The recordings still sound superb. The ensemble sound of the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra has a warm, smooth sound. And yet one can still hear important details in the solo passages and smaller groupings. […]
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Julius Bittner Orchestral Works (with a a dash of Wagner)
The liner notes concede the obvious about Julius Bittner. He was heavily influenced by Richard Wagner. Bittner was a contemporary of Franz Schreker, Erich Wolfgang Korngold, and Franz Schmidt. And while his music shares the Viennese richness of his contemporaries, there’s still more than a hint of Wagner. As Brendan G. Carroll relates in the […]