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Elgar
Cockaigne (In London Town), concert overture, Op. 40
Edward Heath, conductor
Bernstein
Candide, overture
Vaughan Williams
Fantasia on Greensleeves
Enescu
Romanian Rhapsody No. 1 in A Major, Op. 11
London Symphony Orchestra
Andre Previn
A fun collection from the gala concert in 1971.
J.S. Bach
Goldberg Variations, BWV 988
Peter Serkin
A friend recently purchased this box and told me how much he's been enjoying it, so I decided to take the plunge as well. We begin with a rousing Goldberg Variations played with great skill and sensitivity. The slow variation near the end is incredibly moving and deeply felt. I grow more fond of this work every time I hear it, and this recording is a great opener to this box set made in 1965 when Serkin was only 18 years old.
I was a little disappointed to discover that the chamber symphonies are more-or-less transcriptions of Weinberg String Quartets. Satisfying music and performance, but not entirely new to me since I know the original source already.
It would be nice if there were a Weinberg Symphony Cycle, seems like the set of symphonies on Chandos has petered out.
Yes, I tried Szell again, blame Hurwitz.
As (almost) always with Szell, some isolated beautiful and moving passages embedded in a mechanical and indifferent sounding framework. I very much prefer a more naturally flowing interpretation in these works.
Hans Werner Henze - various works part two for late morning and early afternoon.
El Cimarrón is the story of the Cuban slave Estaban Montejo and his bid for freedom. He later took part in Cuba's 1890s war of independence. Montejo told his story in 1963, when he was already over 100 years old. Henze infuses El Cimarrón with folk flourishes, as he does with the 6th symphony, a work which is also partly built around themes from revolutionary songs. Henze was living in Cuba when both works were composed - a period when his commitment to revolutionary socialism was reaching a personal peak.
Symphony no.5 (1962):
Symphony no.6 for two chamber orchestras (1969):
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(*** same recording but on DG's Critics Choice reissue
El Cimarrón [The Runaway Slave] - recital for baritone, flute, guitar and percussion [Text: Hans Magnus Enzensberger, based on the oral testimonies of Esteban Montejo as given to writer Miguel Barnet] (1969-70):
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