Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music

Mendelssohn composed the Octet as a birthday present for his friend and violin teacher Eduard Rietz, he pointed out specifically that 'this Octet must be played by all instruments in symphonic orchestral style. The work is indeed texturally remarkable in that it manages to combine the intimacy of chamber music and the richer sound of an orchestral canvas with effortless ease. Although this is the work of a mere sixteen year-old it actually represents him in the first flush of youthful maturity, and it is arguable that he never quite recaptured it's ecstatic exuberance, inventive ardor and sheer joie de vivre. It comes as no surprise to find Mendelssohn saying - somewhat nostalgically - in later life: 'I had a beautiful time writing it'. Franck's Quintet was composed in the years 1878-9 and was dedicated to Saint-Saens. It's tone is ardent and it's harmonic structure is generous. The writing for piano is typical of this composer, being technically demanding not so much in terms of sheer virtuosity but rather in the frequent awkwardness of the intervals and the alteration of what might have been straightforward figurations by the injection of unexpected chromatics. Franck was a devotee of cyclic architecture, and in this work he followed this procedure with the confidence born of experience. As a result the quintet strikes home as a convincing unity, in spite of it's unashamed emotionalism and broad dramatic scope.

Classical Music

Lessons in Love and Violence is an opera with music by George Benjamin and text by Martin Crimp. The opera, which is based on the story of King Edward II and Piers Gaveston and covers the events set out in Christopher Marlowe's play Edward II, which combines the story of Edward and Gaveston with the deposition of Edward II by Mortimer and the overthrow of Mortimer and Edward's queen Isabella of France by Edward III. The opera is in two parts, of four and three scenes respectively, and is performed without a break. The opera was co-commissioned by the Royal Opera Covent Garden London, the Dutch National Opera Amsterdam, Staatsoper Hamburg, Opera de Lyon, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Gran Teatre del Liceu, Barcelona and Teatro Real Madrid. This production was recorded by the Dutch National Opera in June and July of 2018.

Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music