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Ives: Symphonies Nos. 3 & 4 / Morlot, Seattle Symphony
Seattle Symphony Media

Ives: Symphonies Nos. 3 & 4 / Morlot, Seattle Symphony

$18.99

Details

Composer
IVES, CHARLES
Artist
Morlot
Format
CD
Label
Seattle Symphony Media
Released
Jan 08, 2016
Catalog #
SSM1009
UPC
855404005089

About

A momentous release, as Morlot and the Seattle Symphony follow their acclaimed recording of Ives’ Symphony No. 2 with the next installment that includes four of the composer’s greatest works. The rarely recorded Symphony No. 4 is a haunting summation of American musical styles, and one of the masterpieces of American music. It receives here a live performance of staggering authority and eloquence that brings Ives’ multi-layered sonic canvas to new life. Recorded alongside Symphony No. 3 and Ives’ two most beloved short orchestral works, this release is engineered to audiophile standards and set to be an authoritative voice among recordings of Ives’ discography.

REVIEW:

These live performances are outstanding, and the coupling gives you what is basically “the essential Ives” orchestral music. The Fourth Symphony is a tricky piece, particularly in its second and fourth movements, whose chaotic climaxes need to ride that border between riotous, tuneful abundance and mere noise. Morlot gets it, and the orchestra provides a lean, clear sonority that convinces you that something meaningful is happening down there underneath the welter of sound. Only the “simple” third movement might raise an eyebrow, with it’s extremely quick tempo, but the phrasing helps to make the approach more convincing than you might at first believe.

The two short pieces, The Unanswered Question and Central Park in the Dark, belong together, but seldom get presented that way. It’s great to have the opportunity to hear them in their proper sequence. Finally, Morlot offers a very attractive, flowing account of the Third Symphony, with textures keenly observed in order to provide this gentle music with the maximum amount of color. It’s all very well recorded before a quiet and attentive audience. The sonics do lack the richness of, say, Litton on Hyperion, my versions of reference, but this is by any standard awfully good.

-- ClassicsToday.com (David Hurwitz)

Tracklist 9 tracks

  1. 1 I. Prelude. Maestoso [Live] 03:27
    Track
    1
    Title
    I. Prelude. Maestoso [Live]
    Duration
    03:27
    Composer
    Charles Ives
    Performer
    Cristina Valdés
    Ensemble
    Seattle Symphony Chorale, Seattle Symphony
    Conductor
    Ludovic Morlot, Stilian Kirov, David Alexander Rahbee, Julia Tai
  2. 2 II. Comedy. Allegretto [Live] 12:07
    Track
    2
    Title
    II. Comedy. Allegretto [Live]
    Duration
    12:07
    Composer
    Charles Ives
    Performer
    Joseph Adam
    Ensemble
    Seattle Symphony
    Conductor
    David Alexander Rahbee, Stilian Kirov, Ludovic Morlot
  3. 3 III. Fugue. Andante moderato con moto [Live] 06:39
    Track
    3
    Title
    III. Fugue. Andante moderato con moto [Live]
    Duration
    06:39
    Composer
    Charles Ives
    Performer
    Cristina Valdés
    Ensemble
    Seattle Symphony
    Conductor
    Julia Tai, David Alexander Rahbee, Stilian Kirov
  4. 4 IV. Very Slowly - Largo maestoso [Live] 08:59
    Track
    4
    Title
    IV. Very Slowly - Largo maestoso [Live]
    Duration
    08:59
    Composer
    Charles Ives
    Performer
    Cristina Valdés
    Ensemble
    Seattle Symphony Chorale, Seattle Symphony
    Conductor
    Julia Tai, David Alexander Rahbee, Stilian Kirov, Ludovic Morlot
  5. 5 The Unanswered Question (Revised Version) 06:50
    Track
    5
    Title
    The Unanswered Question (Revised Version)
    Duration
    06:50
    Composer
    Charles Ives
    Performer
    David Gordon
    Ensemble
    Seattle Symphony
    Conductor
    Ludovic Morlot
  6. 6 Central Park in the Dark 11:22
    Track
    6
    Title
    Central Park in the Dark
    Duration
    11:22
    Composer
    Charles Ives
    Ensemble
    Seattle Symphony
    Conductor
    Ludovic Morlot
  7. 7 I. Old Folks Gatherin' 07:41
    Track
    7
    Title
    I. Old Folks Gatherin'
    Duration
    07:41
    Composer
    Charles Ives
    Ensemble
    Seattle Symphony
    Conductor
    Ludovic Morlot
  8. 8 II. Children's Day 06:50
    Track
    8
    Title
    II. Children's Day
    Duration
    06:50
    Composer
    Charles Ives
    Ensemble
    Seattle Symphony
    Conductor
    Ludovic Morlot
  9. 9 III. Communion 07:47
    Track
    9
    Title
    III. Communion
    Duration
    07:47
    Composer
    Charles Ives
    Ensemble
    Seattle Symphony
    Conductor
    Ludovic Morlot