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Symphonic Music: June 2008 Archives

Dvořák Off The Beaten Path

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Naxos 8.557352

Antonín Dvořák
(1841-1904)

Mazurka for Violin & Orchestra
Rondo for Cello & Orchestra
Seven Interludes for Small Orchestra
Silent Woods for Cello & Orchestra
Polonaise in E Flat Major
Nocturne in B Major
American Suite
Five Prague Waltzes
Polka in B Flat Major

Dmitry Yablonsky, cello
Alexander Trostianski, violin
Russian Philharmonic Orchestra/Dmitry Yablonsky
Naxos 8.557352 78:42

This is a generous collection of some of Dvořák's shorter pieces, some of which do not lack other recordings. The American Suite is not as well-known as the Czech Suite, but certainly deserves to be. The real rarity is the Seven Interludes, which run about 23 minutes, and give some pointers towards his early symphonies. A very useful compendium.

[ Available on CD: Amazon - UK - Germany - Canada - France - Japan - ArkivMusic - CD Universe ]

[ Sheet music by this composer: Sheet Music Plus - Musicnotes.com ]

Swedish Serenade

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DGG 445857

Wilhelm Stenhammar
(1871-1927)

Serenade in F Major for Orchestra, Op. 31 (1911-13)
Symphony #1 in F Major
Symphony #2 in G minor, Op. 34
Concert Overture "Excelsior!", Op. 13

Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra/Neeme Järvi
Deutsche Grammophon 445857-2 2CDs 74:54

Listening to the Serenade, a jewel of a work in five movements, one can imagine that Stenhammar held an artist's palette, but instead of pigments, he held all the colors and sounds of his favorite composers. There is the orchestrational skill of Tchaikovsky, the richness of Bruckner and Sibelius, the space of Nielsen, the drama of Wagner and Richard Strauss, and the interest in national and ancient music, all transformed into the language of the Late Romantic. This is a great "guessing game" piece to stump music lovers who don't yet know Stenhammar.

[ Available on CD: Amazon - UK - Germany - Canada - France - Japan - ArkivMusic ]

[ Sheet music by this composer: Sheet Music Plus - Musicnotes.com ]
[ The Serenade is also available on BIS CD-310: Amazon - UK - Germany - Canada - France - Japan - ArkivMusic - CD Universe ]

Italian Rarities

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Decca 4769766

Ildebrando Pizzetti (1880-1968)

Suite "La Pisanella" 1
Concerto dell'estate 1

Ottorino Respighi (1879-1936)

Trittico Botticelliano 2

Nino Rota (1911-1979)

Concerto per archi 3

1 L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande/Lamberto Gardelli
2 Argo Chamber Orchestra/Laszlo Heltay
3 I Musici
Decca Eloquence 4769766 77:58

Respighi's Botticelli Triptych shows the composer in less flamboyant mood and does not lack recordings. Rota's short Concerto for Strings is reminiscent of Kurt Weill. The CD's main interest is in the Pizzetti works, especially the Summer Concerto, whose only recording this is. Running about 30 minutes and in three movements, it sounds very like the Respighi of the Roman trilogy but with a degree more restraint. La Pisanella makes a good contrast in mood with the concerto. This release is on the budget Australian Eloquence label, as distinct from its UK counterpart.

[ Available on CD: Amazon - UK - Germany - Canada - France ]

[ Sheet music by Pizzetti: Sheet Music Plus - Musicnotes.com
   Sheet music by Respighi: Sheet Music Plus - Musicnotes.com
   Sheet music by Rota: Sheet Music Plus - Musicnotes.com ]
Trumpet