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Topics - alberto

#21
Warner has just (to my knowledge) released a very interesting three Cd  box by the (marvellous) "Les Vents Francais" (Pahud, Meyer, Leleux, Audin, Vlatkovic plus the pianist Le Sage).
For me the gem of the set, at least as novelty, is the delightful piano and winds Sextet by Louise Farrenc (1852).
Almost as interesting the Caplet Quintet for Piano and winds (1899-idiom like early Debussy).
Other works by Thuile, Rimsky, Mozart, Beethoven, Roussel, Poulenc.
An interesting note on "price policy" the 3 CDs set (2014 recordings) costs as a full price Cd.
#22
Maybe somebody will be interested to the Burgmueller Etudes op. 100, 105 and 109 released by the (apparently new) label "Limen":
2 CD + 1 DVD (a new marketing strategy..or attempt?) , Aki Kuroda pianist).
#23
Recordings & Broadcasts / Pizzetti Cello Concerto on Sony
Saturday 08 November 2014, 10:43
Maybe someone could be interested to the decidedly romantic Cello Concerto by Idebrando Pizzetti (albeit composed in 1934).
Sony has just released it (Silvia Chiesa, cellist; Corrado Rovaris conductor, Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale della RAI).
The couplings are Casella Cello Concerto and Respighi Adagio con Variazioni.
#24
I understand that BBC Music has not a legion of friends in this forum.
But on page 9 of the November issue, commenting the magazine  monthly Cd (Schumann Symphony n.1 cond. Noseda; Schubert Sym. n.4, cond  Mena) about "further listening" suggested , alongside expected suggestions regarding all the Schumann Symphonies and Schubert's n.3 and 5, one may read " Similar to Schumann is the music of his contemporary Johan Rufinatscha . Try , in particular, the Austrian's melodious Sixth Symphony, as recorded by the BBC Phil. and G.Noseda in 2011 (Chandos)".
Of course the very short comment may be deemed generic and/or superficial. How to describe Rufinatscha music to the "average listener" (unaware of his name) has been widely debated here.
The words "try IN PARTICULAR...the Chandos record" may appear not appropriate (as the Chandos Cd seems the only one easily available almost eveywhere).
But isn't  the BBC "suggestion"Music much better than nothing?   
#25
Composers & Music / Elgar in Switzerland
Tuesday 02 September 2014, 12:18
On Saturday 30th August I had the luck (not by chance, by choice) to attend in Luzern to a (IMHO magnificent) performance of Elgar's Second Symphony conducted by Andris Nelsons with the City of Birmingham SO. BTW the Symphony was a "first performance" for the Festival (born in 1938).
The hall was full. Nobody-as far as I saw- went away after the first half (Beetfoven's Emperor with Buchbinder). And it would be meaningless to go to Luzern (the audience is international, just for a minority local) to hear half concert. (I just saw two persons leaving almost at the end of the finale: who knows their reasons?).
I had the impression that the audience was mainly unfamiliar with the work, but attentive.
At the end the response was very good, I would say warm (prompted by Nelson standing motionless for a longish moment after the last bar).
Warm, but slightly mitigated in comparison to the reactions after two "grand repertoire" symphonies I attended to: Beethoven Seventh (Nelsons again) and Tchaicovsky Sixth (Gergev and Mariinsky Orch.).
#26
Composers & Music / Unsungs in Milan
Friday 06 June 2014, 18:07
On the occasion of a world exhibition the next season (october '14-0ctober '15) of the "Orchestra Sinfonica Giuseppe Verdi" (present at the last year Proms) will host a cornucopia of unsung (or rarely sung) works.
Here a list:
Bax Tintagel
Magnard Hymne a Vénus
Ysaye Chant d'hiver
Lekeu Hamlet et Ophélie
Gomes Il Guarany-overture
Albeniz Navarra
            Catalonia, suite
Sgambati Piano Concerto
                Symphony n.2
Liszt Prometheus
Martucci Symphony n.2
Korngold Violin Concerto
Goldmark Im Fruling
Bach-Mahler Suite for Orch.
Glazunov Chopiniana
Taneyev Overture on a Russian Theme
Goldmark Violin Concerto in A
Respighi Ballata delle Gnomidi
               Metamorphoseon Modi XII
Zandonai Danza e cavalcata from Romeo e Giulietta
Korngold Theme and Variations
                Straussiana
Busoni Tanzwalzer
Stephan Music for orch.
Alfano Symphonic excerpts from Sakuntala
Martucci Notturno, Giga, Colore Orientale
Massenet Scenes Napolitaines
                 Le Cid, ballet
Mascagni Danza Esotica
Nielsen Aladdin, suite
Pilati Alla culla; Furlana
Ponchielli Elegia
Puccini Preludio Sinfonico
Boito Sinfonia in A minor
Bach-Elgar Fantasia e Fuga in C minor
Bach-Respighi Preludio e Fuga, D minor
No news-up to now- about broadcast.

#27
The French monthly magazine "Diapason" (January 1914) dedicates a fairly rich article to Friedrich Gernsheim, underlining that he lived six years (albeit very young) in Paris.
Under the title "L'illustre inconnu" the article is much more than simply respectful. It treats F.G. as a great composer sadly neglected, but recently enjoyning revivals.
A cycle of chamber concerts featuring Gernsheim, Brahms and Schumann is announced at the Auditorium du Louvre from 10th of Juanuary up to the 27th of March 2014 (but no notice about programs; and apparently no broadcast).
#28
Last week in my city Torino I have heard "Enigma Variations" conducted by Nicolaj Znaider; on the last September I had heard (once again) "Nimrod" performed as an encore by Y.Temirkanov and the St.Petersburg Phil. I think I have heard "Enigma" in its integrality some ten times (albeit in many years).
Randomly looking, I see that Barenboim will soon conduct "Falstaff" at La Scala, and that the mezzo Daniela Barcellona will sing "Sea pictures" in Trieste .
(BTW the last week I heard in my city, with another "domestic" orchestra Walton First Symphony, conducted by Y.Sado). 
#29
I tardily understand that just yesterday the Berlin Deutsche Oper has staged the last of no less than 13 performances of "Cenerentola" (Venezia, 1900), the first opera of W-F. In Berlin they have presented the opera (I suppose in a German translation) as an opera aimed to a chidren's audience (like often Humperdinck's Handel und Gretel).
Scant Wolf-Ferrari I see elsewhere; just in February 2014 eight performances of the much later (1936) "Il campiello" in Venice and the near Rovigo (same production).
#30
-Genève, October 2013, Ernest Reyer : Sigurd (three concert peformances, featuring Anna Caterina Antonacci, cond. F.Chaslin)
-Saint-Etienne February 2014, Camille Saint-Saens: Les Barbares (three concert perfomances, featuring Kate Aldrich and Julia Gertseva). A recording is announced.
-Strasbourg and Mulhouse, March-April 2014. Ernest Chausson: Le Roi Arthus (seven stage performances)
-Tours, April 2014 .Alberic Magnard : Berenice (three stage performances, cond. Jean-Yves Ossonce)
#31
Composers & Music / Bantock at the 2013 Proms
Friday 19 April 2013, 09:54
I have read quickly the program of 2013 Proms. I have seen a comforting number of works by Granville Bantock.
#32
Not so new indeed. About one year ago (and for me a Christmas Cd) a new version of Sgambati PC (alongside the old, well known here Bolet-Genesis; a French "Actes du Sud" is uneasy to find)) has been released by "La Bottega Discantica" (small Italian label). Roberto Giordano piano, Marco Guidarini cond., Orchestra "I pomeriggi musicali di Milano".The performance sounds to me good if not outsanding (in much better sound than the old Bolet).
Couplings, all for piano solo: three transcriptions by Martucci from Corelli and G.B. Martini, Sgambati's once famous "Melodie de Gluck" (a free transcription from Orpheus) and Respighi's six pieces from Ancient Airs and Dances.
#33
Recordings & Broadcasts / d'Indy L'étranger on Accord
Thursday 07 February 2013, 13:38
Maybe some or several will be interested to the release -already made in France- of d'Indy "L'etranger" (1903), a product of the Montpellier Festival 2010 (cond.L.Foster - Accord 2cd).
Being a fan (if not always an enthusiast) of d'Indy, and prompted (I must admit) by the very reasonable length of the opera (1h 37') I think I will check.
The review on the French magazine "Classica" is absolutely positive about the music, rather positive about the performance(and d'Indy, even in France, does not always enjoy good press).
#34
Recordings & Broadcasts / Justin Heinrich Knecht (1752-1817)
Wednesday 16 January 2013, 09:51
Knecht belongs to the classical era.
But his "Grande Symphonie"  or "Le portrait musical de la Nature" (1783) is said by someone to be in some way a forerunner of Beethoven Pastoral.
Yesterday I attended a concert where Knecht's Symphony was recorded live by Naxos, performed by the youthful and modestly sized Orchestra Filarmonica di Torino  under Christian Benda.
The concert booklet didn't pretend that the Knecht had a direct effect on Beethoven, not even that Beethoven knew it (but he did know some Knecht organ music).
The Knecht is cast in five movements, lasting about 25 ', with some modestly descriptive passage.
No shocking surprise, but a playful listening.
I'll buy the Naxos (no idea about time release). A Carus label of the Knecht (plus some vocal pieces, with an overall very short timing) exists on the "Carus" label.   
#35
Composers & Music / Bridge, Parry and G.Butterworth in Italy
Wednesday 16 January 2013, 09:35
Next 28/2 the "Orchestra del Teatro Comunale di Bologna" (cond.P.von Steinacker) will perform "The Sea" by Frank Bridge.
Just now I am aware that on last 15 November the youthful and modestly sized "Orchestra Sinfonica di Sanremo" (Sanremo is a small town on the sea, a holidays venue) has performed Parry Third Symphony and G.Butterworth "The Banks of the Green Willow" (alongside Gliere Concerto for soprano coloratura and a work by the conductor Donald Appert).
BTW in Sanremo last summer I heard in an actual concert Delius "On hearing the first cuckoo in spring" and "Summer Night on the River" (while in 2012 in my city, Torino, I have heard Delius Cello Sonata).
#36
Listening to Casella's suite op.13, in the first movement, I have been puzzled by the (IMO) too explicit and evident "homages to" or "borrowing from" Mahler First Symphony; and, in the third movement, by the hints (or more) of Sibelius Third Sym. (in 1910 brand new, and snobbed by Glazunov and Prokofiev at the world premiere). More subdued and subliminal (in the Casella) the overtones of Mahler's Fourth in Casella' Suite third movement.
Casella's op.13 was apparently appreciated by Mahler himself, Mengelberg and Bruno Walter.
On reviewing the Naxos Cd, the (important) French critic Michel Fleury, not silencing the Mahler heritage, has praised it ("Classica", November 2012).
Impressions from friends of the forum?
(Naxos 8.573004 Alfredo Casella Suite op.13; Pagine di guerra op.25 bis; Concerto per orchestra op.61;
Francesco La Vecchia cond., Orch.Sinfonica di Roma). 
#37
By-product (or collateral effect) of Wagner bicentenary I understand that in 2013, in Grenoble (23rd May) and Berlin (4th June) there will be TWO independent revivals of Pierre-Louis Dietsch 1842 opera "Troil ou le vaisseau fantome" (according to the Grenoble news) or "Le vaisseau fantome ou le maudit des mers" (news from Berlin).
The opera is on a French libretto by.......Richard Wagner (by him sold to the Paris Opera), adjusted by two French librettists.
The opera in Paris in 1842 stood for eleven performances and (if I have well understood) was never revived.
Dietsch appears to have been a composer and conductor of some merit, ascended to important posts.
I have no idea about a future broadcast.   
#38
Chandos will record in Manchester very soon the Third Symphony and "Italia" (BTW exactly duplicating the CPO Francis Cd).
That was said to me yesterday by Maestro Noseda (and the Casella seies will go on, even if no title is up to now decided).
#39
I would like to point out an innovative season , within the "standard" season of the Orchestra "Giuseppe Verdi" in Milano.
In TEN shortish symphonic programs on Sunday mornings a "major" composer is flanked by two much less performed.
The forum will forgive me -I hope- if i I indicate all the composers, with no period limit (but we end with Korngold and Rozsa):
1) Mozart is flanked by F.X. Richter and Franz Benda.
2) Haydn by Kozeluch and Carl Stamitz
3) Beethoven by Hummel and Salieri
4) Schubert by Clementi and Krommer
5) Ciaicovskj by Arenskj and S.Tanejev
6) Ravel by Hahn and Honegger
7) Bartok by Holst and Canteloube
8) Prokofiev by Casella and Malipiero
9) Stravinsky by Kabalevsky and Gliere
10) Britten by Korngold and Rozsa
Roughly speaking, each composer has 1/3 of the concert time (the "majors" have not the lion's share).
#40
I wonder if some friend in the forum may write something about Cowen's (childish) operetta "Garibaldi". Thanks in advance!