21st century classics
What do people think have been the greatest works of this century so far? Living where I do I almost never get the chance to hear exciting premieres so I depend on CDs and the wonderful BBC Radio 3. My favourite CDs have been a collection of new pieces by Julian Anderson on NMC, all wonderful, similarly a Bridge collection of Carter's new orchestral works, he just gets better and better, and a couple of Kurtag CDs. However the work that completely bowled me over when I first heard it was Golijov's Ayre. I know he's somewhat flavour of the month, but I do think this piece is amazing.
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In opera, I would say Peter Eotvos's, The Three Sisters, and Kaja Saariaho's L'Amour de Loin.
A music lover currently living in the middle of nowhere.
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n
I assume that's a minimalist work?
;-)
"Louder! Louder! I can still hear the singers!"
- Richard Strauss to the orchestra, at a rehearsal.
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I think it's actually just the first movement of m – or am I confusing it with r?
Audio Editor, Gramophone
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n
Agreed. Strikes a magnificent balance between the youthful exuberance and naivety of A-M, and the excesses, perhaps hint of world-weariness, that mar O-Z.
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n
I have a shrewd suspicion that the 'n' was meant to be followed by the letters 'o-n-e' but there was a failure of nerve at the last minute.
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I'd like to put in a word for John McCabe's piano quartet, The Woman by the Sea (2001). I heard it at John McCabe's 70th birthday concert last year, played by the wonderful Sacconi Quartet with the composer at the piano. I believe a recording (by the same team) is due out later this year.
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Dr. Atomic, by John Adams is without a doubt one of the most important operas written in recent years. There have been criticisms of the libretto by Peter Sellars, but the music is certainly great.
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How about a recent Mahler/Bruckner hybrid piece scored for large orchestra and various soloists, of 6hours+ in length.
aka The soundtrack to "Lord of the Rings" - the composer Howard Shore even looks a bit like Mahler.
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I would pick out works by Thomas Larcher: "My Illness is the Medicine I need" and "Madhares for String Quartet". Also Theirry Pecou: "Outre-memoire (for piano)".
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aka The soundtrack to "Lord of the Rings" - the composer Howard Shore even looks a bit like Mahler.
Indeed: that opens up a whole can of worms to do with film music composers 'being inspired by' classical composers' works. Yes, John Williams, I'm looking at you...
Audio Editor, Gramophone
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I always thought that John Barry must have loved the first movement of Mahler's Symphony No. 9. It seems to form the basis for Out of Africa and Dances with Wolves.
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Yes indeed re Elliott Carter. There's four works on just one Bridge CD that could be considered--Dialogues, Boston Concerto, Cello Concerto, ASKO Concerto.