Ravel: Piano Concertos

VORSPIELE

The significance of the seven pieces brought together here is that they both generate a striking panorama of the intelligence of the material presented, over a period of four years, from 1939 to 1943, by the composer whom the critic Fred Goldbeck described as "the greatest Giraudouxian of our age", and clarify in an extraordinarily oblique manner the prehistory of this "automation" of the creative act, towards which one can detect the perpetual temptation in the young Cage.

MARTINU: Chamber Music

Classical Music

Classical Music

These performances were formerly available on Analketa 28714.

Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music

SIBELIUS: Symphony No. 2 / 'The Tempest', Suite No. 1

DUPRE: Works for Organ, Vol. 7

20TH CENTURY MUSIC FOR FLUTE AND ORCHESTRA

William Walton's reputation rests primarily with 'Façade' and 'Belshazzar's Feast'. However, Walton was an accomplished composer who felt comfortable in virtually all genres whether it was film scoring or the delightful Concertos on this CD.
The first movement of the Violin Concerto is an extended dreamy andante that is punctuated by a dramatic and virtuosic middle section before revisiting the movement's secondary theme provided by flute and strings. The second movement consists of a nonstop presto of a technical level that must have proved quite daunting for the work's dedicatee, Jascha Heifetz. But it is the bravura and exciting finale that showcases both the felicity and virtuoso skills of Dong-Suk Kang for this recording.
The Cello Concerto, Walton's favorite of his three concertos, was written for Gregor Piatigorsky. Although this is a rather somber (but passionate) work, Walton's preference may have to do with his brilliant combination of harp, vibraphone and celesta in the final movement. And certainly the slow fade of the work's final measures for solo cello (beautifully rendered by Tim Hugh), a revisit to the work's opening movement, is the most stunning moment of all.

HOWELLS: Requiem / Take Him, Earth, for Cherishing

SCHREKER: Gezeichneten (Die)

HINDEMITH: Piano Works, Vol. 4

SZYMANOWSKI: King Roger / Prince Potemkin

HINDEMITH: Piano Works, Vol. 2

SCHMITT: Tragedie de Salome (La)

Classical Music

VILLA-LOBOS: Rudepoema / Dancas

VILLA-LOBOS: Discovery of Brazil, Suites Nos. 1 - 4

Classical Music

LAJTHA: Symphonies Nos. 5 and 6 / Lysistrata

VILLA-LOBOS: Pequena Suite / Bachianas brasileiras Nos. 2, 5

CASTELNUOVO-TEDESCO: Shakespeare Songs

Shostakovich: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 and 2

Lutoslawski: Symphony No. 2 / Little Suite / Symphonic Vari

PROKOFIEV: Ten Small Pieces / Sarcasms / Visions Fugitives