Dates: 1880-1943, but I've no idea when this (very conservative-sounding) symphony was written. Forthcoming from Sterling, but don't be misled by Presto's (mis)translation of the title of the CD : it means 'Anthology of his symphonic (i.e.orchestral) music':
https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/9265590--barrios-anthology-of-his-symphonies
Per this source the symphony was written in 1913: https://yancuic.com/2021/10/04/afinan-rescate-sinfonico-de-la-obra-del-compositor-aurelio-barrios-y-morales/
Sounds pretty underwhelming to me - and not particularly well played.
I agree. Moreover, though it is impossible to tell without seeing a score, I get the impression from the soundbites that most of the tempi are leaden and slow, which certainly would not help the piece.
Unless we're completely wrong about the music and performance, I just can't see the point of this release. There's so much better music waiting to be recorded.
I've had an advance copy of this recording, and the impression the soundbites give is accurate. The recording, performance and music itself have nothing to recommend them.
Oh dear. Has Sterling lost its way?
One bad apple doesn't spoil the whole bunch... but we'll watch just in case. :D
I don't know for sure, but I suspect it's a classic case of someone paying to have a recording produced commercially.
Oh, dear:
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2022/Jan/Barrios-symphony-CDS11142.htm
I'm always surprised by lines like the end of that review, though... that not everything deserves revival? Granted, easily enough :)
Nick Barnard's review might seem overly harsh to readers who haven't heard the recording but, believe me, it's a very fair assessment. This recording is definitely the antidote to the Your Discovery of 2021 (http://www.unsungcomposers.com/forum/index.php/topic,8567.msg88861.html#msg88861) thread!
Sad to say, some music really isn't worthy of revival - but, of course, we have to hear it to find out!
Perhaps recordings such as these are being churned out by sheer commercial necessity by a label that appears to have seen better days in the past and not been generating much new releases of late. The latest issue is perhaps undertaken on the demand or request of its patrons and financiers in the face of a global supply chain shortage of commendably glossed over musical gems amid these dire Covid times. Aside from those committed backers of this composer, it will surely whet the appetite of those diehard collectors smitten by a lifelong addiction of obsessive compulsive collectible hoarders syndrome for better or worse...
Sterling has never really been in the business of generating new recordings; rather it has generally sourced its releases from the archives of radio stations. If this particular release is a means of advertising the orchestra's qualities as well as the music's viability, it would seem a failed enterprise.
This release may actually harm the label's reputation.
QuoteSterling has never really been in the business of generating new recordings
Actually the label does have a history of making a substantial number of its own new recordings mixed with those sourced from European radio stations, but this statement is certainly true of the last four years or so. Sterling does also release a steady stream of "artist showcase" type CDs and boxes of which we aren't usually aware here at UC. I do hope that Bo Hyttner doesn't come to regret this CD release, but IMHO it was an uncharacteristic misjudgement and I've told him so.
That Juon CD, which I praised the other day, is of pretty recent vintage and there have been far more hits than misses on that label
QuoteActually the label does have a history of making a substantial number of its own new recordings
Thanks for putting me right!
QuoteThat Juon CD
...contains recordings made in 2004 and 2011! And the Symphony in F#minor was conducted by the world authority on Juon's music, Christof Escher. A fine release indeed - but reflecting past glories, I feel.
Quotea steady stream of "artist showcase" type CDs and boxes
Yes, I've noticed those, plus some releases of 20th century music. Nothing of interest to me, though. They're not what I look to Sterling for.
Quote from: Alan Howe on Wednesday 05 January 2022, 11:13
Sad to say, some music really isn't worthy of revival - but, of course, we have to hear it to find out!
This is the crux, of course. And particularly Latin American romantic music is not particularly well represented in recordings, so it's worth a gamble just to get a representative body of repertoire. The risk, of course, is that with a few bad apples people may get the sense that this whole musical corner is unworthy of interest, which would be a real shame. Sterling has given us Julián Carrillo's First Symphony, and the Castro concertos not too long ago, so they have something of a track record here. Alas, this appears to be a dud - even if I think Nick Barnard's judgment of
El angel de la guarda (the only piece I have heard) is a tad harsh; but then, that well probably got spoilt already by the symphony, and it's not as though it's exactly a riveting piece.