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Szymanowski: Symphonies No 1 & 3 / Gardner, BBC SO
Chandos

Szymanowski: Symphonies No 1 & 3 / Gardner, BBC SO

$21.99

Details

Composer
SZYMANOWSKI, KAROL
Artist
Johnson, Gardner
Format
SACD
Label
Chandos
Released
Nov 18, 2014
Catalog #
CHSA 5143
UPC
095115514320

About

Edward Gardner and the BBC Symphony return to the intoxicating orchestral music of Karol Szymanowski in their third disc devoted to the composer. Ben Johnson, a tenor whose star is rapidly rising, joins Gardner and the BBC SO here as a soloist in two works. Symphony no 1 (1907) belongs to his early period, heavily influenced by German late-Romanticism. The exquisite Love Songs of Hafiz (1911), marked by fascination with oriental themes, and the ‘Song of the Night’, scored for huge orchestra with choir and tenor soloist, both feature Persian poetry set to sensuous and emotionally-charged music.

Reviews:

The performances are particularly cosmopolitan. And why not? The works here reflect influences from many nationalities. Johnson, whose relatively lean voice (in contrast with the Eastern European sopranos sometimes heard in this piece) is very much responsive to the text's meaning.

– Gramophone

“The BBC Symphony Chorus sings with languid exaltation, yet it is the orchestral detail that impresses most here, right from the still, mystery-laden opening. Gardner conducts with such conviction that it is impossible not to find beauty in [Love Songs'] potentially dense Reger-meets-Scriabin soundworld.

– BBC Music Magazine

Tracklist 13 tracks

  1. 1 I. Moderato assai 08:27
    Track
    1
    Title
    I. Moderato assai
    Duration
    08:27
    Composer
    Karol Szymanowski
    Performer
    Ben Johnson
    Ensemble
    BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Edward Gardner
  2. 2 II. Allegretto tranquillo 07:08
    Track
    2
    Title
    II. Allegretto tranquillo
    Duration
    07:08
    Composer
    Karol Szymanowski
    Ensemble
    BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Edward Gardner
  3. 3 III. Largo 10:25
    Track
    3
    Title
    III. Largo
    Duration
    10:25
    Composer
    Karol Szymanowski
    Performer
    Ben Johnson
    Ensemble
    BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Edward Gardner
  4. 4 No. 1. Zyczenia (Desires) 01:31
    Track
    4
    Title
    No. 1. Zyczenia (Desires)
    Duration
    01:31
    Composer
    Karol Szymanowski
    Performer
    Ben Johnson
    Ensemble
    BBC Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Edward Gardner
  5. 5 No. 2. Zakochany wiatr (The infatuated East wind) 01:49
    Track
    5
    Title
    No. 2. Zakochany wiatr (The infatuated East wind)
    Duration
    01:49
    Composer
    Karol Szymanowski
    Performer
    Ben Johnson
    Ensemble
    BBC Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Edward Gardner
  6. 6 No. 3. Taniec (Dance) 01:48
    Track
    6
    Title
    No. 3. Taniec (Dance)
    Duration
    01:48
    Composer
    Karol Szymanowski
    Performer
    Ben Johnson
    Ensemble
    BBC Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Edward Gardner
  7. 7 No. 4. Serca mego perly (Pearls of my soul) 01:40
    Track
    7
    Title
    No. 4. Serca mego perly (Pearls of my soul)
    Duration
    01:40
    Composer
    Karol Szymanowski
    Performer
    Ben Johnson
    Ensemble
    BBC Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Edward Gardner
  8. 8 No. 5. Wieczna mlodosc (Eternal youth) 02:47
    Track
    8
    Title
    No. 5. Wieczna mlodosc (Eternal youth)
    Duration
    02:47
    Composer
    Karol Szymanowski
    Performer
    Ben Johnson
    Ensemble
    BBC Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Edward Gardner
  9. 9 No. 6. Glos twoj (Your voice) 02:50
    Track
    9
    Title
    No. 6. Glos twoj (Your voice)
    Duration
    02:50
    Composer
    Karol Szymanowski
    Performer
    Ben Johnson
    Ensemble
    BBC Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Edward Gardner
  10. 10 No. 7. Piesn pijacka (Drinking song) 02:35
    Track
    10
    Title
    No. 7. Piesn pijacka (Drinking song)
    Duration
    02:35
    Composer
    Karol Szymanowski
    Performer
    Ben Johnson
    Ensemble
    BBC Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Edward Gardner
  11. 11 No. 8. Grob Hafiza (Hafiz' Grave) 06:05
    Track
    11
    Title
    No. 8. Grob Hafiza (Hafiz' Grave)
    Duration
    06:05
    Composer
    Karol Szymanowski
    Performer
    Ben Johnson
    Ensemble
    BBC Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Edward Gardner
  12. 12 I. Allegro Moderato 09:59
    Track
    12
    Title
    I. Allegro Moderato
    Duration
    09:59
    Composer
    Karol Szymanowski
    Ensemble
    BBC Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Edward Gardner
  13. 13 II. Finale 08:52
    Track
    13
    Title
    II. Finale
    Duration
    08:52
    Composer
    Karol Szymanowski
    Ensemble
    BBC Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Edward Gardner