BACH TO BOULEZ (pronounced 'back' to Boulez)
Friday, February 18, 2011
Bruckner Symphony No.5(last movement) - 'Third Reich' version
This is how the Third Reich wanted Bruckner to sound......with clashing cymbals and triangle! What a laugh! This is one of his symphonies that never suffered from revision, that is until the Nazi's got their rotten hands on it. Don't even bother trying to purchase this atrocious recording!! As great as Hans Knappertsbusch was a conductor(especially with the operas of Richard Wagner......his "Parsifal" was beyond reproach, perhaps even divinely inspired), he prefered the 'Nazi' versions of Bruckner's symphonies......tragic and disgusting!
Discover and laugh!
Bruckner Symphony No. 4(last movement) - 1878 version
I just found the 1878 version of the Fourth known as the 'Volksfest' movement on YouTube. Thematically it is closer to the 1880 version than to the earlier 1874 original version. This version of the last movement can be purchsed on the Naxos label coupled with Symphony No.00(double zero....his actual 'first' symphony) conducted by Georg Tintner. As I said, in my previous post, buying Bruckner's symphonies can be difficult if you don't know which version is which!
BE AMAZED!
Bruckner Symphony No.4(last movement) - 1874 version
This is a recording of Bruckner's original vision for his Fourth Symphony. After completing this work in 1874, he felt at odds with it and as early as 1878 he proceeded to revise the whole work. The third movement in the 1874 version was entirely scraped and a whole new movement was written. On advise from his students and friends Bruckner often re-worked his symphonies. The most notable re-workings were done on the First, Second, Third, Fourth and Eighth Symphonies. There are so many versions especially of the Third and Fourth, that just trying to marry a score with the right recording is practically impossible. Even Hitler had his hands in having all of the symphonies re-scored to bring out the majesty of the Third Reich. The 'original' version of the Third is almost 30 minutes longer than the version that we hear in the concert halls today.
The First Symphony has two versions: one that is known as the 'Linz' version(original) and the much later 'Vienna' version(much beefed up orchestration). The recordings to purchase, if you want to hear some of these 'original' versions, can be found on the Naxos label. Georg Tintner did much to preserve Bruckner's original intentions. As in the case of his recording of the Fourth, he stuck with the version(1880) that is heard in the concert halls. For a great reference recording of the 1874 version, I heartily recommend the Sony recording with Kent Nagano conducting the Bavarian State Orchestra.....quite spectacular! If you know this work, the 1874 version will really surprise you! If you don't know either versions, I suggest starting with the 1880 version(everybody records this one). When purchasing the above mentioned symphonies, please take care to get the "right" ones that are performed in the concert halls.
Although this post is only a fragment from the last movement, try to compare it with my next post. Be prepared to be surprised!
Discover and be amazed!
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Casella Symphony No.2 1/5
Casella knew Mahler and endevoured to get Mahler's symphonies performed. There are moments in this symphony of stylistic resemblances to Mahler's symphonies. Most notibly in the last movement there are resemblances to Mahler's Seventh Symphony. If you like Mahler you should take to this symphony with great ease. This is a Chandos recording. Naxos is in the process of recording all of Casella's symphonies and this work and his First Symphony are available. Personally I think the acoustics are better in the Chandos recording but interpretively the critics seem to think that the Naxos recording is better. In any case, please give this work a hearing.....it will not hurt your ears.
Discover!
PS...Upon purchasing the Chandos recording, I discovered a definite link between the last movement of Casella's Second and the last movement of Mahler's Third Symphony. In my opinion both recordings are flawed. The Chandos recording is spectacular(organ and bells....wow!) but fails to bring out the gritty Mahlerian textures. The Naxos recording brings out the Mahlerian textures but the sound stinks(I get the idea that the Rome Orchestra is an amateur ensemble) probably due to lousy sound engineering! I suggest purchasing both interpretations or wait until another label records this work. The CPO label has just released a recording of Casella's Third Symphony. It received high praise from the critics, so let's hope CPO will record this fine work!
Casella Sympnony No.2 5/5
It is especially in this part of the last movement that I hear definite thematic references to Mahler's Third Symphony(last movement).
Get a load of the spectacular sound of full organ and bells! Magnificent!
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Szymanowski's opera "King Roger" - opening music
This has to be the most glorious opening of any opera I have ever heard in my life. The whole opera lasts about an hour and a half and the music is fantastic and senuous! I hope you enjoy this very haunting music!
A movement from Szymanowski's ballet "Harnasie"
This is for those that find Szymanowski's music too dificult to listen to. This movement is called "The Raid of the Harnasie - Dance". Hopefully this shouldn't hurt your ears. Very exciting music, indeed!
Szymanowski Stabat Mater 1/3
This is a glorious work that I recently discovered. In all my musical travels I have rarely been so carried away as I am by this Twentieth Century liturgical masterpiece! There are many fine recordings of this work, namely Sir Simon Rattle's on EMI and Antoni Wit's on Naxos. I have both and heartily recommend them without reservations. Please take time to hear this wonderful work and I hope it blesses you as much as it has blessed me!
Discover and ENJOY!
Szymanowski Three Kasprowicz Songs 1/3
These three songs by Karol Szymanowski are very beautiful and remind me of the songs with orchestra that Richard Strauss wrote. They should pose no problem except that they are sung in Polish and no translations are offered. In the recording I have on the Naxos label, translations are not provided but I am so carried away by the magnificence of the music that one need not follow the words to appreciate them. They will not hurt your ears!
Please enjoy!
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Last Movement from Stanford's Symphony No.3 "Irish"
It would seem that a great deal of English composers were either born in Ireland or greatly influenced after having visited there. Sir Hamilton Harty wrote his only symphony and titled it an "Irish Symphony". Sir Arnold Bax wrote works that described in tone pictures the countryside, fables and myths of Ireland. Sir Charles Villiers Stanford wrote this Symphony and six Irish Rhapsodies. They obviously loved Ireland for all it's beautiful countryside and people. Or perhaps the lot of them just couldn't give up Irish Whiskey.....who knows, maybe I should give it a try. Knowing myself as I do I'll probably get drunk and never compose an Irish symphony!
Stanford's Irish Rhapsody No.1 1/2
I recently purchased the fabulous two disc set, on the Chandos label, of the complete Irish Rhapsodies, Piano Concerto No.2 and "Variations on Down Among the Dead Men" by Sir Charles Villiers Stanford. I heartily recommend this set! This is music that couldn't possibly hurt your ears and if it does.....give up on Classical Music, it just ain't for you!
Please discover this glorious music and ENJOY!
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