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See Terms & Conditions for p&p rates. | |  | Barber - Orchestral Works
Barber, S: | Adagio for Strings, Op. 11 Violin Concerto, Op. 14 First Essay for Orchestra Op. 12 Medea's Meditation and Dance of Vengeance, Op. 23a Summer Music, Op. 31 Overture to The School for Scandal, Op. 5 Cello Sonata in C minor, Op. 6 Canzone for Flute & Piano Op. 38a Excursions Op. 20 Nocturne, Op. 33 Pas de deux arr. from Souvenirs, Op. 28 Two-step arr. from Souvenirs, Op. 28 Second Essay for Orchestra, Op. 17 Third Essay for Orchestra, Op. 47 |
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| |  | Barber: Concerto per piano & 3 Essays
Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale della RAI, Daniel Kawka As pianist and musicologist Alfonso Alberti writes in the liner notes, “in the evolution of musical language, Barber finds a niche in which we can still say something in a certain way which others consider dead and buried; he does not look ahead as Cowell or Ives (and still less Cage), do simply because he has other objectives”. This new CD includes the Concerto per pianoforte e orchestra, perhaps the culminating point in Barber’s career (the piece won the composer his second Pulitzer Prize), written for the pianist John Browning and the Boston Symphony Orchestra conducted by Erich Leinsdorf, and the Three Essays for orchestra. The first, dated 1937, and linked, chronologically and historically, to the famous Adagio was proposed to Arturo Toscanini for the first performance; the second was completed in 1942 and conducted for the first time by Bruno Walter; the third was written in 1978 and is typified by a particular crepuscular atmosphere and sparer writing, without giving up a charming melodic nature. The skilful pianist Giampaolo Nuti, already known for his recordings dedicated to Schnittke, Busoni and Berio, appears with Daniel Kawka and the Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale della RAI. “Nuti has a fine technique...The performances are all reliable and the CD is a welcome centenary tribute from Italy to a composer who had so many rewarding connections with that country throughout his life.” Gramophone Magazine, March 2011 | | | Usually despatched in 3 - 4 working days. |
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| |  | Barber: Orchestral Works Volume 5
“Ravishing. … One of the finest versions of Knoxville to date. … Alsop’s ear-opening Barber series reaches a new high-point with this instalment. Strongly recommended.” Gramophone Magazine “Another 20th-century milestone for voice and orchestra arrives... Karina Gauvin is quite a voice: commanding, penetrating, with a burnished colour... The Royal Scottish National Orchestra flares up to match... Alsop Conducts beautifully.” The Times “Karina Gauvin and Marin Alsop take a nostalgic view of Knoxville: Summer of 1915. Theirs is an adult's bittersweet reminiscence rather than a child's innocent view. The outer sections sway slowly, the phrases longingly caressed as if soprano and orchestra were loath to let them go.
Gauvin sings smoothly, generally emphasising song over text, though she's alive to James Agee's fragrant imagery, and varies the colour of her voice appropriately. With deeply expressive playing from the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, the result is ravishing; this is one of the finest versions of Knoxville to date.
Alsop's tautly argued Second Essay is equally satisfying. She resists the temptation to stretch the tempo at climactic moments, creating a strong sense of momentum; you're swept along by the music's powerful current.
Knoxville and the Essays pack a nice sonic punch. If only Thomas Trotter's brilliant execution of the solo organ part in the Toccata Festiva were recorded with greater presence than the acoustic of Paisley Abbey allows. The Toccata may not be top-drawer Barber, but it has its moments. Nevertheless, Alsop's ear-opening Barber series reaches a new high-point with this instalment. Strongly recommended.” Gramophone Classical Music Guide, 2010 “Alsop's reading [of Knoxville] brings out the contrasts between the different sections more sharply than usual...superbly played and recorded.” Penguin Guide, 2011 edition | | | (also available to download from $6.00) | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. (Available now to download.) |
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| |  | Neeme Järvi conducts Barber
| | | (also available to download from $10.50) | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. (Available now to download.) |
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| |  | John Corigliano and Samuel Barber: Orchestral Works
The Third Essay was Samuel Barber’s last completed work and its drama and lyricism are entirely characteristic of the neo-Romantic style he composed in for his entire life, a style which won him a large and faithful audience. In his avowed concern for writing music that communicates with the listening public, John Corigliano could be seen as an inheritor of Barber’s mantle. The Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra is a large-scale work that demonstrates his eclectic style at its finest. Corigliano avails himself of traditional and avant-garde compositional techniques and exploits instrumental virtuosity and orchestral color to fashion a compelling dramatic statement. | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
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| |  | Barber: Complete Orchestral Works
Barber, S: | Symphony No. 1, Op. 9 First Essay for Orchestra Op. 12 Overture to The School for Scandal, Op. 5 Symphony No. 2, Op. 19 Cello Concerto, Op. 22 Wendy Warner (cello) Medea Orchestral Suite, Op. 23 Adagio for Strings, Op. 11 Piano Concerto Op. 38 Stephen Prutsman (piano) Die Natali, Op. 37 Medea's Meditation and Dance of Vengeance, Op. 23a Commando March Capricorn Concerto A Hand of Bridge, Op. 35 Mutations from Bach Vanessa - Intermezzo Canzonetta for oboe and strings Fadograph of a Yestern Scene Knoxville: Summer of 1915, Op. 24 Toccata Festiva, Op. 36 Second Essay for Orchestra, Op. 17 Violin Concerto, Op. 14 James Buswell (violin) Souvenirs, Op. 28 Serenade for String Orchestra, Op. 1 Music for a Scene from Shelley, Op. 7 Third Essay for Orchestra, Op. 47 |
In Barber’s anniversary year, Naxos is delighted to present his complete orchestral works in a specially priced 6-CD slipcase. | | Naxos - 8506021 (CD - 6 discs) Normally: $26.75 Special: $21.40 |
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