Walton: Symphony No. 1 | Violin Concerto

Opis

Walton: Symphony No. 1 | Violin ConcertoOpis:Product Description SUPER AUDIO CD IN SURROUND SOUNDEdward Gardner, a Chandos exclusive artist, conducts the BBC Symphony Orchestra in two great masterpieces by William Walton, his Violin Concerto and the Symphony No. 1. Walton burst onto the British musical scene in his twenties, the success of works such as Façade, the Viola Concerto, and Belshazzar's Feast establishing him in both the avant-garde and the mainstream of British composers. The obvious next step for Walton was to compose a symphony and he was duly commissioned to do so by Sir Hamilton Harty in 1932. The first complete performance of his Symphony No. 1, in 1935, was a triumph, immediately gaining the work an honoured place in British music which it has never lost. It is a highly virtuosic work with a remarkable expressive range, in turns powerful and broad, malicious, melancholic, and majestic.

The Violin Concerto was written in 1938 in response to a commission from Jascha Heifetz. The solo part reflects not only the legendary virtuosity for which Heifetz was famous, but also the sweetness and purity of his playing of long lyrical lines. In this recording the soloist is Tasmin Little whose acclaimed recordings of concertos by Britten, Elgar, Delius, and Moeran on Chandos have already established her as one of the foremost interpreters of British music for the violin.

Review Two masterworks of English music, graced with top-flight interpretations from two exceptional artists and a classy orchestra: what's not to like? Performance ***** Recording ***** BBC MUSIC CHOICE RECORDING OF THE MONTH --BBC Music Magazine, June'14There is something rather tame about Walton's music, its depths of despair or heights of ecstasy never quite overstepping the bounds of what is polite and proper. But it is finely crafted, full of interesting detail, and beautifully presented in this BBCSO recording conducted by Edward Gardner. In the symphony, the rich textures are built up in layers a pulsing ostinato in the middle strings, a melody pulled this way and that, big brass stabs and a steady hand is needed to keep these elements from grating against each other. There are moments in the first movement on this recording that feel on the verge of looseness, but Gardner doesn t let too much flex creep in. Through the more jaggedly rhythmic second movement with the famous con malizia (with malice) direction and the lavish melancholy of the third, to the triumphant finale, this is a very enjoyable recording of the symphony. The violin concerto, Tasmin Little's second recording of it, reinforces her position as one of the very top advocates of the work, as she is of British music in general. It is an exceptionally warm and lyrical sound and just as light and agile when it needs to be. The cadenza in the third movement is a masterclass in controlled intensity. This hybrid SA-CD gives you the option of 5.0 surround sound if you have the kit, but sounds balanced and roomy in plain stereo too. **** --Sinfini Music, 29/5/14Could this be the one, the Holy Grail for Walton fans? A new recording of his Symphony no 1 that measures up to André Previn's famous LSO version, taped in 1966 and still sounding fresh? Previn's disc remains a remarkable artefact, the only account of this uneven work which will make you believe it's a masterpiece. The symphony's detractors have plenty to get their teeth into the shameless borrowings from Sibelius, the crudeness of expression, the macho posturing. But, performed with conviction, it can be a thrilling experience. Edward Gardner's swift tempi bode well, and he's blessed with razor-sharp orchestral playing. He guides us through the first movement's guilty pleasures as well as anyone, and doesn't peak too soon, making the brassy pile up before the recapitulation suitably savage. The ensuing duel between tuba and low horns is terrific. Gardner's scherzo is exciting and witty, though lacking the last degree of menace. The slow movement is beautifully doAutor:Tasmin LittleNośnik:Audio CDPłyt:Język: Data wydania: 2014Waga: 0.31 gramWysokość: 0.4 cmSzerokość: 4.9 cmDługość: 5.6 cmShrink-wrappedUWAGA: Kupując produkt na tej aukcji zgadzasz się na wydłużony termin realizacji wysyłki (10-14 dni roboczych). Podany towar pochodzi z zagranicznego magazynu, stąd wydłużony czas realizacji który podany jest obok.