The rhythmic complexities of the Sacre are notorious but, in the hands of a master of modern music and one of the world’s top orchestras, the London Symphony Orchestra, the elemental barbarism of the music is thrilling. Boulez’s definitive reading of Stravinsky’s masterpiece was recorded live from the Alte Oper Frankfurt, in a performance specially staged for the cameras. The programme includes a short interview with the conductor about this landmark work (available in English, French and German), as well as a performance of Stravinsky’s Symphonies of Wind Instruments.
Symphony No. 3 “The Symphony of Sorrowful Songs”
“A towering monument to our world and to the appalling mess we have made of it,” is
how director Tony Palmer describes Henryk Górecki’s phenomenally successful Symphony No. 3.
Taking his cue from Górecki’s remarks about the inspiration for this symphony, Palmer overlays a
performance by the London Sinfonietta and soprano Dawn Upshaw, conducted by David Zinman, with
harrowing footage of man’s crimes against his fellow man – from Auschwitz to Somalia, Iraq and
Sarajevo. The result is an intensely moving and disturbing film.
Te Deum
Following his comeback performance at the Vienna State Opera in 1988, this gala concert from the Alte Oper Frankfurt given on September 12, 1992, was one in a series of highly acclaimed performances that marked José Carreras’ return to the concert platform after his battle against leukaemia in 1987/88. Providing the high musical and artistic level of this evening, alongside Carreras are the Vienna Philharmonic – celebrating ist 150th anniversary –, the Vienna State Opera Chorus, the Prague Philharmonic Choir and the Tölzer Boys Choir, all under the baton of conductor Claudio Abbado.
Recital Cecilia Bartoli
Recorded at London’s Savoy Hotel, this recital by the acclaimed Italian mezzo-soprano includes well-known Arie Antiche by Pergolesi, Caldara, Paisiello and Vivaldi, a selection of arias from the ever-popular Mozart operas Così fan tutte and Le nozze di Figaro, as well as the lesser-known La clemenza di Tito. The highlight of the performance is the selection of songs and arias by Rossini. Miss Bartoli is accompanied by Georg Fischer.
All Night Vigil
Recorded live from London’s Royal Albert Hall, Valery Polyansky conducts the USSR Ministry of Culture Chamber Choir, with soloists Tatiana Zheranzhe (contralto) and Victor Radkevich (tenor), in a performance of Rachmaninov’s sublime sacred work. Written before Rachmaninov went into exile, the work is in Russian and scored for unaccompanied choir, since the Orthodox Church does not permit instrumental accompaniment.
Opus 20
Symphony No. 2 in C minor
Bernard Haitink conducts the NOS Radio Choir and the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra in a performance of Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 in C minor (Resurrection), recorded live from the Doelen Concert Hall in Rotterdam. The soloists are Charlotte Margiono (soprano) and Jard van Nes (contralto).
The Schönberg Cycle: String Sextet Op. 4 (Verklärte Nacht)
In a series of specially-staged performances, The Schoenberg Quartet – Janneke van der Meer (violin), Wim de Jong (violin), Henk Guittart (viola) and Viola de Hoog (cello) – perform Schoenberg’s complete works for strings. The recordings benefit from the creative use of visual techniques, and the intimate camerawork, focus on detail and superb sound quality which studio conditions facilitate. The quartet is joined by Arleen Augér (soprano) for the String Quartet No. 2, and by Jan-Erik van Regteren Altena (viola) and Taco Kooistra (cello) for Verklärte Nacht.
String Quartet in D
27′
String Quartet No. 1 in D minor Op. 7
46′
String Quartet No. 2 in F sharp minor Op. 10
33′
String Quartet No. 3 Op. 30
33′
String Quartet No. 4 Op. 37
36′
String Sextet Op. 4 (Verklärte Nacht)
31′
String Trio Op. 45
21′
A 52-minute companion documentary is available to accompany these performances.
In this documentary, made to accompany The Schoenberg Cycle, the Schoenberg Quartet is seen preparing for their performance of the cycle in Los Angeles in 1989. Their tutor is the violist Eugene Lehner, a member of the former Kolisch Quartet, which, in ist day, worked extensively with Schoenberg, Berg, Webern and Bartók, premiering many of their works. Ronald, Lawrence and Nuria Nono Schoenberg, as well as staff at The Schoenberg Institute contribute to this fascinating film.
Recital Andrei Gavrilov
One of today’s great concert pianists, Andrei Gavrilov enjoys a distinguished international career and has been awarded many of the music world’s top prizes for his audio releases. This recital was recorded in studio and features Gavrilov playing two works by the great pianist/composer Sergei Rachmaninov: Piece No. 1 in E flat minor from Morceaux de Fantaisie Op. 3, and Piece No. 3 in B minor from Moments Musicaux Op. 16.
La grande messe des morts (Requiem)
The magnificent cathedral of Regensburg is a perfect setting for this recording of Colin Davis conducting the Bayerischer Rundfunk Symphony Chorus and Orchestra in a splendid, moving performance of Berlioz’s monumental work, with tenor Keith Lewis as soloist. The performance is completed by the pealing of the cathedral bells. Regensburg Cathedral provides a superb setting for this live recording of Berlioz’s resounding Requiem, written in 1837 for the dead of Napoleon’s catastrophic wars. Sir Colin Davis conducts the Bavarian Radio Symphony Chorus and Orchestra in a magnificent and moving performance of this work, with soloist Keith Lewis (tenor).