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Reference Recordings

Shakespeare's Tempest - Sullivan, Sibelius / Stern, Kansas City Symphony

$18.99 Only 1 left

Details

Composer
SIBELIUS SULLIVAN
Artist
Stern
Format
CD
Label
Reference Recordings
Released
Jul 07, 2008
Catalog #
RR-115
UPC
030911111526

About


Arthur Sullivan's music for The Tempest reveals the 19-year-old as a serious talent. Yes, the music owes something to Mendelssohn--the Prelude, particularly, takes a few major hints from the Fingal's Cave Overture. But the melodic inspiration is fresh, the orchestration vivid, the dance music aptly toe-tapping, and the brief postlude curiously moving in a way that actually anticipates the more reflective moments of the Sibelius that follows. Coupling these two works, one a barely known first orchestral essay, the other a late but still curiously neglected masterpiece, was a brilliant idea--a "concept" album that really makes good musical sense.

The playing order of the Sibelius also is very intelligent: Prelude (Storm), Suite No. 2, then Suite No. 1, which ends with a reprise of the Prelude's storm music. Happily, both here and in the Sullivan, the performances are as smart, atmospheric, and vibrant as the music itself. Caliban's Song and the storm episodes have impressive power, and they're stunningly recorded in vintage Reference Recordings fashion. The more lyrical moments, such as the Berceuse and the various song transcriptions, are all beautifully played by the Kansas orchestra. The wind soloists are uniformly fine (listen to the flute in The Oak Tree, from Suite No. 1), and the harp, so important to the music's "magic" elements, is wonderfully present without ever sounding spotlit. Only "Miranda" from Suite No. 2 sounds a touch edgy in the violins, the tempo slightly rushed. This and any other minor quibbles certainly aren't enough to prevent me from recommending this new release in the strongest possible terms. It's a winner in all respects.

--David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday.com

Tracklist 27 tracks

  1. 1 Introduction 05:44
    Track
    1
    Title
    Introduction
    Duration
    05:44
    Composer
    Arthur Sullivan
    Ensemble
    Kansas City Symphony
    Conductor
    Michael Stern
  2. 2 Prelude to Act III 01:51
    Track
    2
    Title
    Prelude to Act III
    Duration
    01:51
    Composer
    Arthur Sullivan
    Ensemble
    Kansas City Symphony
    Conductor
    Michael Stern
  3. 3 Banquet Dance 04:06
    Track
    3
    Title
    Banquet Dance
    Duration
    04:06
    Composer
    Arthur Sullivan
    Ensemble
    Kansas City Symphony
    Conductor
    Michael Stern
  4. 4 Overture to Act IV 04:46
    Track
    4
    Title
    Overture to Act IV
    Duration
    04:46
    Composer
    Arthur Sullivan
    Ensemble
    Kansas City Symphony
    Conductor
    Michael Stern
  5. 5 Dance of Nymphs and Reapers 05:05
    Track
    5
    Title
    Dance of Nymphs and Reapers
    Duration
    05:05
    Composer
    Arthur Sullivan
    Ensemble
    Kansas City Symphony
    Conductor
    Michael Stern
  6. 6 Prelude to Act V 04:38
    Track
    6
    Title
    Prelude to Act V
    Duration
    04:38
    Composer
    Arthur Sullivan
    Ensemble
    Kansas City Symphony
    Conductor
    Michael Stern
  7. 7 Epilogue 02:02
    Track
    7
    Title
    Epilogue
    Duration
    02:02
    Composer
    Arthur Sullivan
    Ensemble
    Kansas City Symphony
    Conductor
    Michael Stern
  8. 8 The Tempest, Op. 109: Prelude 05:37
    Track
    8
    Title
    The Tempest, Op. 109: Prelude
    Duration
    05:37
    Composer
    Jean Sibelius
    Ensemble
    Kansas City Symphony
    Conductor
    Michael Stern
  9. 9 I. Chorus of the Winds 03:26
    Track
    9
    Title
    I. Chorus of the Winds
    Duration
    03:26
    Composer
    Jean Sibelius
    Ensemble
    Kansas City Symphony
    Conductor
    Michael Stern
  10. 10 II. Intermezzo 01:22
    Track
    10
    Title
    II. Intermezzo
    Duration
    01:22
    Composer
    Jean Sibelius
    Ensemble
    Kansas City Symphony
    Conductor
    Michael Stern
  11. 11 III. Dance of the Nymphs 01:32
    Track
    11
    Title
    III. Dance of the Nymphs
    Duration
    01:32
    Composer
    Jean Sibelius
    Ensemble
    Kansas City Symphony
    Conductor
    Michael Stern
  12. 12 IV. Prospero 01:34
    Track
    12
    Title
    IV. Prospero
    Duration
    01:34
    Composer
    Jean Sibelius
    Ensemble
    Kansas City Symphony
    Conductor
    Michael Stern
  13. 13 V. Song I 00:56
    Track
    13
    Title
    V. Song I
    Duration
    00:56
    Composer
    Jean Sibelius
    Ensemble
    Kansas City Symphony
    Conductor
    Michael Stern
  14. 14 V. Song II 00:51
    Track
    14
    Title
    V. Song II
    Duration
    00:51
    Composer
    Jean Sibelius
    Ensemble
    Kansas City Symphony
    Conductor
    Michael Stern
  15. 15 VI. Miranda 01:27
    Track
    15
    Title
    VI. Miranda
    Duration
    01:27
    Composer
    Jean Sibelius
    Ensemble
    Kansas City Symphony
    Conductor
    Michael Stern
  16. 16 VII. The Naiads 01:16
    Track
    16
    Title
    VII. The Naiads
    Duration
    01:16
    Composer
    Jean Sibelius
    Ensemble
    Kansas City Symphony
    Conductor
    Michael Stern
  17. 17 VIII. Dance Episode 02:01
    Track
    17
    Title
    VIII. Dance Episode
    Duration
    02:01
    Composer
    Jean Sibelius
    Ensemble
    Kansas City Symphony
    Conductor
    Michael Stern
  18. 18 I. The Oak Tree 02:59
    Track
    18
    Title
    I. The Oak Tree
    Duration
    02:59
    Composer
    Jean Sibelius
    Ensemble
    Kansas City Symphony
    Conductor
    Michael Stern
  19. 19 II. Humoresque 01:07
    Track
    19
    Title
    II. Humoresque
    Duration
    01:07
    Composer
    Jean Sibelius
    Ensemble
    Kansas City Symphony
    Conductor
    Michael Stern
  20. 20 III. Caliban's Song 01:15
    Track
    20
    Title
    III. Caliban's Song
    Duration
    01:15
    Composer
    Jean Sibelius
    Ensemble
    Kansas City Symphony
    Conductor
    Michael Stern
  21. 21 IV. The Harvesters 02:07
    Track
    21
    Title
    IV. The Harvesters
    Duration
    02:07
    Composer
    Jean Sibelius
    Ensemble
    Kansas City Symphony
    Conductor
    Michael Stern
  22. 22 V. Canon 01:27
    Track
    22
    Title
    V. Canon
    Duration
    01:27
    Composer
    Jean Sibelius
    Ensemble
    Kansas City Symphony
    Conductor
    Michael Stern
  23. 23 VI. Scene 01:28
    Track
    23
    Title
    VI. Scene
    Duration
    01:28
    Composer
    Jean Sibelius
    Ensemble
    Kansas City Symphony
    Conductor
    Michael Stern
  24. 24 VII. Intrada - 00:41
    Track
    24
    Title
    VII. Intrada -
    Duration
    00:41
    Composer
    Jean Sibelius
    Ensemble
    Kansas City Symphony
    Conductor
    Michael Stern
  25. 25 VII. Berceuse 01:43
    Track
    25
    Title
    VII. Berceuse
    Duration
    01:43
    Composer
    Jean Sibelius
    Ensemble
    Kansas City Symphony
    Conductor
    Michael Stern
  26. 26 VIII. Ariel's Song 03:53
    Track
    26
    Title
    VIII. Ariel's Song
    Duration
    03:53
    Composer
    Jean Sibelius
    Ensemble
    Kansas City Symphony
    Conductor
    Michael Stern
  27. 27 IX. The Storm 03:22
    Track
    27
    Title
    IX. The Storm
    Duration
    03:22
    Composer
    Jean Sibelius
    Ensemble
    Kansas City Symphony
    Conductor
    Michael Stern