American Classics - MacDowell: Piano Concertos / Prutsman
Details
- Composer
- MACDOWELL
- Artist
- Stephen, Arthur, Prutsman, Aisling Drury, Fagen, Byrne
- Format
- CD
- Label
- Naxos
- Released
- Jan 01, 2001
- Catalog #
- 8559049
- UPC
- 636943904923
About
Edward MacDowell (1860-1908), an exact contemporary of Gustav Mahler, was widely considered the most important American composer of his day-a time when American music was based primarily on European models. Antonin Dvorák called on American composers to turn to indigenous sources, such as Negro spirituals and Indian tribal music, for inspiration. MacDowell flatly rejected this, commenting, What Negro melodies have to do with Americanism remains a mystery to me." Thus, in the Piano Concerto No. 1 we hear the comfortable old echoes of the Grieg A minor and, in the finale, Dvorák's own concerto. MacDowell's second concerto displays a noticeably higher degree of originality, though here too the European influence is clear, in this case Saint-Saëns. The dark and portentous opening creates a mood of anticipation before the piano enters to launch the drama of the first movement. The finale is brisk and exciting, with some wonderfully bravura piano writing, with which soloist Stephen Prutsman unreservedly flaunts his brilliant technique. He's just as fine in the brief Witches' Dance, which is rather tame and far less spooky than we have come to expect after the likes of Berlioz. The soothing sounds of MacDowell's gentle Romance for Cello and Orchestra close this interesting program. As on many other Naxos recordings, the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland (led here by Arthur Fagen) delivers performances of international caliber. Fine sound, too." - ClassicsToday.com (Victor Carr, Jr.), January 15, 2001
Tracklist 8 tracks
-
1 I. Maestoso - Allegro con fuoco 10:39
- Track
- 1
- Title
- I. Maestoso - Allegro con fuoco
- Duration
- 10:39
- Composer
- Edward MacDowell
- Performer
- Stephen Prutsman
- Ensemble
- National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland
- Conductor
- Arthur Fagen
-
2 II. Andante tranquillo 06:52
- Track
- 2
- Title
- II. Andante tranquillo
- Duration
- 06:52
- Composer
- Edward MacDowell
- Performer
- Stephen Prutsman
- Ensemble
- National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland
- Conductor
- Arthur Fagen
-
3 III. Presto 07:37
- Track
- 3
- Title
- III. Presto
- Duration
- 07:37
- Composer
- Edward MacDowell
- Performer
- Stephen Prutsman
- Ensemble
- National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland
- Conductor
- Arthur Fagen
-
4 I. Larghetto calmato 13:36
- Track
- 4
- Title
- I. Larghetto calmato
- Duration
- 13:36
- Composer
- Edward MacDowell
- Performer
- Stephen Prutsman
- Ensemble
- National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland
- Conductor
- Arthur Fagen
-
5 II. Presto giocoso 04:44
- Track
- 5
- Title
- II. Presto giocoso
- Duration
- 04:44
- Composer
- Edward MacDowell
- Performer
- Stephen Prutsman
- Ensemble
- National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland
- Conductor
- Arthur Fagen
-
6 III. Largo - Molto allegro 07:43
- Track
- 6
- Title
- III. Largo - Molto allegro
- Duration
- 07:43
- Composer
- Edward MacDowell
- Performer
- Stephen Prutsman
- Ensemble
- National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland
- Conductor
- Arthur Fagen
-
7 Hexentanz (Witches' Dance) Op. 17 No. 2 03:05
- Track
- 7
- Title
- Hexentanz (Witches' Dance) Op. 17 No. 2
- Duration
- 03:05
- Composer
- Edward MacDowell
- Performer
- Stephen Prutsman
- Ensemble
- National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland
- Conductor
- Arthur Fagen
-
8 Romance for Cello and Orchestra, Op. 35 04:07
- Track
- 8
- Title
- Romance for Cello and Orchestra, Op. 35
- Duration
- 04:07
- Composer
- Edward MacDowell
- Performer
- Aisling Drury Byrne
- Ensemble
- National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland
- Conductor
- Arthur Fagen