Music for a time of war CD
Sat, Apr 14 2012, 6:20PM
I know that enthusiasm about individual discs tends, for some reason, not to get much of a response in the forum, but enthuse I must after just having heard the Pentatone 'Music for a time of war' disc from the Oregon Symphony under Carlos Kalmar.
The programme is Ives's Unanswered Question, Adams's The Wound-Dresser, Britten's Sinfonia da Requiem and Vaughan Williams's 4th Symphony. I'm not sure that Britten would have liked what gets written about his work in the lively, intelligent but slightly idiosyncratic liner notes from Steven Kruger (it's described effectively as a 'Battle of Britain' piece), and VW was famously dismissive about his 4th being seen as a comment on the times. Yet even so, as a thoughtful, thought-through programme (war associations or not), it's outstanding, and so is the execution - the first three pieces are played without elaborate pause (this is a live recording, and so keeps that), and the invitation to think about connections between the works is rich. The VW4 given after what would have been the interval strikes me as very good, too, gaining in ferocity as it goes.
Pentatone's sound is superb.
Alex Ross caught the programme at the Carnegie Hall a few days after this recording was taped, and what he has to say about the music-making then I think applies to this CD, which I would warmly recommend:
http://www.therestisnoise.com/2011/05/spring-for-music-column.html
Mon, Apr 16 2012, 2:25PM
#2
RE: Music for a time of war CD
I know that enthusiasm about individual discs tends, for some reason, not to get much of a response in the forum, but enthuse I must after just having heard the Pentatone 'Music for a time of war' disc from the Oregon Symphony under Carlos Kalmar.
Hi John.
Thank you such much for mentioning this disc and for that link [I just followed it and enjoyed reading Mr. Ross's column]. You helped to jog my memory about this CD. I'm trying to remember if it was just an add for the disc or a review that I stumbled across in a music mag. Anyway, you've intrigued me with your thoughts on it and I hope to order it along with some other discs soon! :-)
Best wishes,
Petra
Mon, Apr 16 2012, 3:14PM
#3
RE: Music for a time of war CD
And we should not forget (or neglect) three excellent recordings on the same subject, in the field of the Songs, namely:
- The more recent "Songs Of War" with the brilliant baritone Simon Keenlyside with the great assistance on Piano by the equally inspired Malcolm Martineau. It contains some great songs from the most eminent British composers along with two from K. Weil.
- The also recent "Priez pour Paix" with Philip Langridge and David Owen Norris on Piano. It contains songs from English, German and American composers, covering the Great War (on Prelude Records).
- The rather older "Songs in Time of War" with songs of Alec Roth with Mark Padmore, in very good form, and an interesting group of soloists (on Signum).
Parla
I have to admit I bought this SACD with caution, but it proved to be much better than I expected. The program is inventive and creative (even for the unlike inclusion of Britten) and mainly for the almost exemplary interpretation of the works involved, particularly Ives and Britten.
Let's hope we may see more from these fine Oregonians, always in superb Pentatone recordings.
Parla