Bernd Alois Zimmermann: Violin Concerto, Photoptosis, Die Soldaten Vocal Symphony

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Bernd Alois Zimmermann: Violin Concerto, Photoptosis, Die Soldaten Vocal Symphony

Leila Josefowicz (violin), Anu Komsi (soprano), Jeni Packalen (soprano), Hilary Summers (contralto), Peter Tantsits (tenor), Ville Rusanen (baritone), Juha Uusitalo (bass)

Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Hannu Lintu

In Zimmermann’s Violin Concerto…beauty is to the fore ina performance from Lelia Josefowicz that is more elasticated and lyrical (than, say, Thomas Zehetmair) while the Finnish Radio Symphony... — Gramophone Magazine, February 2019 More…

Release Date: 8th Feb 2019
Catalogue No: ODE1325-2
Label: Ondine
Length: 73 minutes

Presto Recordings of the Year

Finalist 2019
Presto Recordings of the Year

Winner 2019
International Classical Music Awards

2019

Nominee - Assorted Program

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Zimmermann, B A: Concerto for violin and large orchestra

Work length17:31

$4.00

$5.20

$7.00

Leila Josefowicz (violin)
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Hannu Lintu
Recorded: May 2018
Recording Venue: Helsinki Music Centre

I. Sonata. Allegro moderato, rubato

Track length4:15

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

II. Fantasia

Track length8:55

$2.00

$2.60

$3.50

III. Rondo. Allegro con brio

Track length4:21

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

Zimmermann, B A: Photoptosis - Prelude for large orchestra

Work length14:00

$3.00

$3.85

$5.25

Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Hannu Lintu

Zimmermann, B A: Die Soldaten, Vocal Symphony

Work length41:49

$9.00

$11.70

$15.75

Jeni Packalen (alto), Hilary Summers (contralto), Ville Rusanen (baritone), Anu Komsi (soprano), Peter Tantsits (tenor), Juha Uusitalo (bass)
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Hannu Lintu
Recorded: July 2018
Recording Venue: Helsinki Music Centre

Act I: I. Prelude

Track length5:39

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

Act I: II. Introduction

Track length0:38

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

Act I: III. Ricercari I. Meine göttliche Mademoiselle…

Track length8:34

$2.00

$2.60

$3.50

Act I: IVa. Nocturno I. Ach, Herr Jesus!

Track length4:47

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

Act I: IVb. Nocturno I. Das herz ist mir so schwer

Track length4:55

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

Act II: V. Intermezzo

Track length4:58

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

Act II: VIa. Capriccio, corale e ciaccona II. Kindlein mein

Track length5:34

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

Act II: VIb. Capriccio, corale e ciaccona II. Was fehlt Ihnen, mein goldnes Mariel…

Track length6:44

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

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Interview, Leila Josefowicz on Bernd Alois Zimmermann

5th March 2019

In the wake of her new recording of the Violin Concerto on Ondine with the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, the American-Canadian violinist tells Katherine about her 'crusade' to bring the German composer's music to a wider audience.

This new release by the award-winning Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Hannu Lintu is dedicated to the music of Bernd Alois Zimmermann (1918–1970), a leading figure in the music of post-Second World War Germany. This album includes a rendering of the composer’s magnificent violin concerto featuring star violinist Leila Josefowicz, orchestral score Photoptosis, as well as the first CD recording of Die Soldaten Vocal Symphony based on an opera that is widely considered as one of the greatest German operas of the 20th century.

Zimmermann wrote his Die Soldaten opera, one of his keyworks, during the 1950s and 60s. The premiere of the opera was cancelled, and upon hearing the claim that the opera would be ‘impossible’ to perform, the composer adapted parts of the opera into a 40-minute vocal symphony suitable for concert performance. This work, filled with power and drama, is much more than a description of the apocalypse of modern war, and deserves its rightful place alongside the operas of Alban Berg.

Zimmerman’s Violin Concerto is a relatively early work in the composer’s oeuvre. It was premiered in 1950 but has suffered much neglect. The influence of Schoenberg, Hindemith, Bartók, Stravinsky and Prokofiev are visible in this work which we might consider to manifest echoes of war.

Photoptosis (1968), ‘Incidence of Light’, is among Zimmermann’s final orchestral pieces. Inspired by a painting created by Yves Klein for the Gelsenkirchen music theatre, this work includes quotations by Scriabin, Beethoven, Bach, and Wagner, among others. Yet, this 'Prélude', as described by the composer, is not a collage, but a study in orchestral sonority and light

Reviews

February 2019

In Zimmermann’s Violin Concerto…beauty is to the fore ina performance from Lelia Josefowicz that is more elasticated and lyrical (than, say, Thomas Zehetmair) while the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra are more sharp-edged and immediate (than Zehetmair’s WDR Symphony Orchestra), Josefowicz plays the rumba finale with notable grit. ..Every Zimmermann recording is one to be welcomed but this one is delicious in its variance.

March 2019

An outstanding release, in terms both of music and performance and, indeed, recorded sound.

10th March 2019

The Violin Concerto is crisp and exhilarating, with a fine advocate in Josefowicz. Photoptosis starts like atmospheric Ligeti, but becomes a daunting edifice of quotations. The dense prelude to the vocal symphony he made from his opera Die Soldaten is like the funeral pyre of western music

April 2019

Josefowicz is magnificent throughout, whether negotiating ferocious technical challenges or playing with gentle lyrical wonder.

Classical Ear March 2019

Anu Komsi’s alert, intense Marie and Juha Uusitalo’s uncle grab the attention, as does impeccably forthright playing throughout from Hannu Lintu’s exemplary Finnish radio forces.

Bernd Alois Zimmermann: Violin Concerto, Photoptosis, Die Soldaten Vocal Symphony

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Interview, Leila Josefowicz on Bernd Alois Zimmermann

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