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Korngold: Much Ado About Nothing / Mauceri, UNC School of the Arts Symphony
Toccata

Korngold: Much Ado About Nothing / Mauceri, UNC School of the Arts Symphony

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Details

Composer
KORNGOLD, ERICH WOLFGANG
Artist
Mauceri, School Of The Arts, University Of North Carolina
Format
CD
Label
Toccata
Released
Apr 30, 2013
Catalog #
TOCC0160
UPC
5060113441607

About

Korngold’s music for Shakespeare’s comedy Much Ado about Nothing, premiered in Vienna in 1920, enjoyed instant success and soon spread around the world. But the music has not been heard as Korngold intended since the 1st production. For this recording, made in conjunction with a staged US premiere, Korngold’s complete score was reconstructed from the original Viennese materials and is played here by the chamber-orchestral forces for which it was written.

REVIEW:

This is indeed a worthy and welcome addition to the Korngold discography. At long last we have a further complete performance of the composer’s delightful incidental music to Shakespeare’s comedy. It joins the sequence recorded by Ondine with John Storgards conducting. The music was first performed in Vienna’s Schönbrunn Palace when Korngold was just 21. It was very successful and the composer would later go on to adapt the music for various chamber ensembles and as an orchestral suite. Now we have the music as it was performed at Schönbrunn together with choice dramatic overlays including Balthasar’s Song, ‘Sigh no more, ladies, sigh no more; Men were deceivers ever’, Beatrice’s soliloquy as she yields to love, and the two sets of lovers’ happy uniting in the final wedding scene.

The orchestra is the same size and specification as that at Schönbrunn with a string quartet rather than a string section so that proper balances with all the other instruments can be assured. With the string quartet are: solo flute/piccolo, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, trumpet and trombone with two horns, a piano, harmonium, harp and three percussionists plus solo timpanist. The original parts were available so that each player could replicate the bowings and articulations used in Vienna. Furthermore, all the composer’s own recordings of the work were made available too, so questions of tempo and portamento could be addressed. Conductor John Mauceri was a very apt choice for he has had much experience conducting Korngold and is a stalwart champion of film music, an asset that might well be regarded as not being far removed from the spirit of this work – in fact the March of the Watch could be considered a pre-echo of Korngold’s Sherwood Forest scenes from his The Adventures of Robin Hood. Mauceri also contributes the erudite notes for this album.

Korngold’s conception works very well in his chosen ensemble. It points up the comedy and irony such as that in March of the Watch and in the dreamy romanticism of the Garden Music. All those intimate glistening string-harp-and-harmonium figures, and rippling piano arpeggios, suggest birdsong and flowers nodding in zephyr breezes. It’s all in gentle romantic waltz time, plus the contrastingly intense almost Mahlerian Funeral Music. Although I would have thought it unnecessary, five of the pieces that have dialogue are repeated again in purely instrumental dress.

There have been a number of recordings of Korngold’s purely orchestral suite from Much Ado About Nothing. Of these I would unhesitatingly recommend Caspar Richter’s 2002 reading originally released on CD DCA 1131. This is not only because it included, for the first time, the enchanting Garden Music but also for the other items on this album which had great appeal especially Korngold’s divine Abschiedlieder Songs  (Songs of Farewell). A delight for committed Korngold fans.

-- MusicWeb International (Aan Lace)

Tracklist 23 tracks

  1. 1 Ouverture 05:02
    Track
    1
    Title
    Ouverture
    Duration
    05:02
    Composer
    Erich Wolfgang Korngold
    Ensemble
    University of North Carolina School of the Arts Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    John Mauceri
  2. 2 Act I Scene 1: Kriegsmusik (War Music) 00:24
    Track
    2
    Title
    Act I Scene 1: Kriegsmusik (War Music)
    Duration
    00:24
    Composer
    Erich Wolfgang Korngold
    Ensemble
    University of North Carolina School of the Arts Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    John Mauceri
  3. 3 Act I Scene 2: Don Juan (Don John) 00:24
    Track
    3
    Title
    Act I Scene 2: Don Juan (Don John)
    Duration
    00:24
    Composer
    Erich Wolfgang Korngold
    Ensemble
    University of North Carolina School of the Arts Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    John Mauceri
  4. 4 Act II: Prelude, "Mummenschanz" (Hornpipe) 02:22
    Track
    4
    Title
    Act II: Prelude, "Mummenschanz" (Hornpipe)
    Duration
    02:22
    Composer
    Erich Wolfgang Korngold
    Ensemble
    University of North Carolina School of the Arts Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    John Mauceri
  5. 5 Act II Scene 1: Festmusik (Festive Music) (Beatrice, Benedict, Claudio, Hero, Leonato, Don Pedro, Balthasar, Antonio, Don John, Margaret, Ursula) 05:16
    Track
    5
    Title
    Act II Scene 1: Festmusik (Festive Music) (Beatrice, Benedict, Claudio, Hero, Leonato, Don Pedro, Balthasar, Antonio, Don John, Margaret, Ursula)
    Duration
    05:16
    Composer
    Erich Wolfgang Korngold
    Performer
    Jackie Robinson, Ari Itkin, Daniel Emond, Jessica Richards, Romolo Wilkinson, Christian Daly, Drew Bolander, Chesley Polk, Nik Danger-James, Emily Ussery, Laura Hall
    Ensemble
    University of North Carolina School of the Arts Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    John Mauceri
  6. 6 Act II: [Change of Scene] 00:24
    Track
    6
    Title
    Act II: [Change of Scene]
    Duration
    00:24
    Composer
    Erich Wolfgang Korngold
    Ensemble
    University of North Carolina School of the Arts Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    John Mauceri
  7. 7 Act II Scene 2: Don Juan (Don John, Borachio) 00:24
    Track
    7
    Title
    Act II Scene 2: Don Juan (Don John, Borachio)
    Duration
    00:24
    Composer
    Erich Wolfgang Korngold
    Performer
    Nik Danger-James, Jamar Williams
    Ensemble
    University of North Carolina School of the Arts Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    John Mauceri
  8. 8 Act III: Prelude, "'Gartenmusik" (Garden Music) (Benedict) 06:36
    Track
    8
    Title
    Act III: Prelude, "'Gartenmusik" (Garden Music) (Benedict)
    Duration
    06:36
    Composer
    Erich Wolfgang Korngold
    Performer
    Ari Itkin
    Ensemble
    University of North Carolina School of the Arts Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    John Mauceri
  9. 9 Act III Scene 1: Lied des Balthasar (Balthasar's Song) (Benedict, Don Pedro, Balthasar) 02:46
    Track
    9
    Title
    Act III Scene 1: Lied des Balthasar (Balthasar's Song) (Benedict, Don Pedro, Balthasar)
    Duration
    02:46
    Composer
    Erich Wolfgang Korngold
    Performer
    Ari Itkin, Christian Daly, Drew Bolander
    Ensemble
    University of North Carolina School of the Arts Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    John Mauceri
  10. 10 Act III Scene 1: Intermezzo (Beatrice) 02:57
    Track
    10
    Title
    Act III Scene 1: Intermezzo (Beatrice)
    Duration
    02:57
    Composer
    Erich Wolfgang Korngold
    Performer
    Jackie Robinson
    Ensemble
    University of North Carolina School of the Arts Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    John Mauceri
  11. 11 Act III Scene 3: Holzapfel und Schlehwein (Marsch der Wache) (Dogberry and Verges (March of the Watch)) 02:35
    Track
    11
    Title
    Act III Scene 3: Holzapfel und Schlehwein (Marsch der Wache) (Dogberry and Verges (March of the Watch))
    Duration
    02:35
    Composer
    Erich Wolfgang Korngold
    Ensemble
    University of North Carolina School of the Arts Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    John Mauceri
  12. 12 Act IV: Prelude, "Madchen im Brautgemach" (Maiden in the Bridal Chamber) 03:43
    Track
    12
    Title
    Act IV: Prelude, "Madchen im Brautgemach" (Maiden in the Bridal Chamber)
    Duration
    03:43
    Composer
    Erich Wolfgang Korngold
    Ensemble
    University of North Carolina School of the Arts Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    John Mauceri
  13. 13 Act IV Scene 2: Kirchenszene (Church Scene) 00:52
    Track
    13
    Title
    Act IV Scene 2: Kirchenszene (Church Scene)
    Duration
    00:52
    Composer
    Erich Wolfgang Korngold
    Ensemble
    University of North Carolina School of the Arts Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    John Mauceri
  14. 14 Act IV Scene 2: Gerichtszene (Judgement Scene) 01:29
    Track
    14
    Title
    Act IV Scene 2: Gerichtszene (Judgement Scene)
    Duration
    01:29
    Composer
    Erich Wolfgang Korngold
    Ensemble
    University of North Carolina School of the Arts Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    John Mauceri
  15. 15 Act V: Prelude, "Trauermusik" (Funeral Music) (Claudio) 04:50
    Track
    15
    Title
    Act V: Prelude, "Trauermusik" (Funeral Music) (Claudio)
    Duration
    04:50
    Composer
    Erich Wolfgang Korngold
    Performer
    Daniel Emond
    Ensemble
    University of North Carolina School of the Arts Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    John Mauceri
  16. 16 Act V: [Change of Scene] (Don Pedro) 00:45
    Track
    16
    Title
    Act V: [Change of Scene] (Don Pedro)
    Duration
    00:45
    Composer
    Erich Wolfgang Korngold
    Performer
    Christian Daly
    Ensemble
    University of North Carolina School of the Arts Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    John Mauceri
  17. 17 Act V Scene 4: Intermezzo, "Final Wedding Scene" (Beatrice, Benedict, Claudio, Hero, Leonato, Antonio, Friar Francis) 03:20
    Track
    17
    Title
    Act V Scene 4: Intermezzo, "Final Wedding Scene" (Beatrice, Benedict, Claudio, Hero, Leonato, Antonio, Friar Francis)
    Duration
    03:20
    Composer
    Erich Wolfgang Korngold
    Performer
    Jackie Robinson, Ari Itkin, Daniel Emond, Jessica Richards, Romolo Wilkinson, Chesley Polk, Charles Osborne
    Ensemble
    University of North Carolina School of the Arts Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    John Mauceri
  18. 18 Act V Scene 4: Schlusstanz (Final Dance) (Benedict) 02:42
    Track
    18
    Title
    Act V Scene 4: Schlusstanz (Final Dance) (Benedict)
    Duration
    02:42
    Composer
    Erich Wolfgang Korngold
    Performer
    Ari Itkin
    Ensemble
    University of North Carolina School of the Arts Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    John Mauceri
  19. 19 IV. Festmusik 04:38
    Track
    19
    Title
    IV. Festmusik
    Duration
    04:38
    Composer
    Erich Wolfgang Korngold
    Ensemble
    University of North Carolina School of the Arts Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    John Mauceri
  20. 20 VI. Gartenmusik 06:36
    Track
    20
    Title
    VI. Gartenmusik
    Duration
    06:36
    Composer
    Erich Wolfgang Korngold
    Ensemble
    University of North Carolina School of the Arts Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    John Mauceri
  21. 21 VII. Intermezzo 02:43
    Track
    21
    Title
    VII. Intermezzo
    Duration
    02:43
    Composer
    Erich Wolfgang Korngold
    Ensemble
    University of North Carolina School of the Arts Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    John Mauceri
  22. 22 XII. Trauermusik 04:50
    Track
    22
    Title
    XII. Trauermusik
    Duration
    04:50
    Composer
    Erich Wolfgang Korngold
    Ensemble
    University of North Carolina School of the Arts Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    John Mauceri
  23. 23 XIV. Schlusstanz 02:29
    Track
    23
    Title
    XIV. Schlusstanz
    Duration
    02:29
    Composer
    Erich Wolfgang Korngold
    Ensemble
    University of North Carolina School of the Arts Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    John Mauceri