James Sedares – Alto CD

Miklős Rőzsa: Violin Concerto, Theme, Variations & Finale; Hungarian Nocturne; The Vintner’s Daughter (suite)

amuletts — Wed, 07 Feb 2024 01:48:59 +0000

“This Concerto is probably Rozsa’s most celebrated concert work: its impassioned romanticism remains wonderfully enthralling … Theme, Variations & Finale was inspired by a wistful melody and helped to make Rozsa’s international reputation … Rozsa’s rhapsodic intensity and dramatic shading would soon lead to a remarkable career in Hollywood … Vintner’s Daughter, a picturesque set of variations, again shows the composer’s melodic appeal and he uses the orchestral palette as seductively as in his film music … Critics’ Choice for 1993” (Gramophone)

Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, Op.24*[30:40]

[1] I. Allegro non troppo ma passionato 13:09

[2] II. Lento cantabile 8:46

[3] III. Allegro vivace 8:44

Theme, Variations & Finale, Op.13A (1933/43)[19:07]

[4] Theme, Variations 1-3 4:27

[5] Variation 4 3:55

[6] Variations 5-6 4:06

[7] Variations 7-8 3:11

[8] Finale 3:27

[9] Hungarian Nocturne, Op.28 (1964) 9:35

The Vintner’s Daughter, Op.23A (1953-55)[16:50]

(Twelve Variations on a French Folksong)

[10] Theme, Variations 1-4 4:03 [11] Variations 5-6 2:50

[12] Variations 7-8 2:06 [13] Variations 9-10 3:08

[14] Variations 11-12 4:41

Bernard Herrmann Symphony No.1; Suite: Devil & Daniel Webster; Concerto Macabre; For the Fallen

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:48:56 +0000

“Like Korngold, Herrmann was a consummate movie composer: his only Symphony -inventive, soundly constructed, always eventful and excitingly scored – successfully taps a harmonically tangy, neoromantic vein reminiscent of Barber at his best … The Devil & Daniel Webster (Suite) was assembled shortly after the film’s score won its Oscar … Herrmann treats several New England folk-tunes to his own special brand of orchestral wizardry. The score is both a gentle, sepia-tinted portrait of rustic Americana and a wickedly endearing account of Mr Scratch’s devilish interventions … the 1943 berceuse For the Fallen, is a brief, but poignant lament for the soldiers killed in action … James Sedares and the NZSO are on top form throughout this valuable addition to Koch’s concert works by acclaimed film composers” (Gramophone)

Symphony No.1 [36:00]

[1] Maestoso – Allegro 13.52

[2] Scherzo 5.56

[3] Andante sostenuto 8.42

[4] Rondo – Finale 7.29

[5] Concerto Macabre for piano & orchestra 10:55

from the film “Hangover Square”

Sara Davis Buechner (piano)

[6] For the Fallen – a Berceuse 6.51

Suite: The Devil and Daniel Webster [20:04]

[7] Mr Scratch 5.29

[8] Ballad of Springfield Mountain 4.36

[9] Sleighride 1.58

[10] The Miser’s Waltz 5.22

[11] Swing Your Partners 2.37

Copland: The Red Pony, Clarinet Concerto, Tender Land, Latin American Sketches

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:48:35 +0000

“(Red Pony) Copland displaying his simple gifts for the ready folk-tune and here the Phoenix woodwinds have what it takes … It was interesting re-hearing his Tender Land suite. So skillful is Copland’s orchestral transcription that one might easily be lulled into thinking this had been conceived solely for orchestra. As trumpets signal a new dawn over the open prairies, Laurie and Martin’s love blossoms in some of the most generous music outside Appalachian Spring. That evocative solo trumpet again leads the emotional surge. No problems with the barn dancing ‘Party Scene’. This is Steinbeck country just as surely as is The Red Pony. Sedares leads a spirited rendition, his warm and willing woodwinds stealing the honours” (Gramophone)

The Red Pony (suite from the film) [26:00]

[1] Morning on the Ranch 5.08

[2] The Gift 5.13

[3] Dream March 2.55

[4] Circus Music 1.56

[5] Walk to the Bunkhouse 3.05

[6] Grandfather’s Story 4.20

[7] Happy Ending 3.21

Three Latin-American Sketches [10:30]

[8] Estribillo 3.11

[9] Paisaje Mexicano 3.45

[10] Danza de Jalisco 3.32

The Tender Land (suite from the opera) [21:18]

[11] Introduction and Love Music 10.22

[12] Party Scene 4.51

[13] Finale: The Promise of Living (Barn Dance) 6.05

[14] Clarinet Concerto* / Eduard Brunner (clarinet) 14:56

ERNEST BLOCH (1880-1959) ‘Israel’ Symphony Schelomo (Rhapsody for Cello) ; Three Jewish Poems

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:48:34 +0000

“Bloch’s Israel Symphony is a large-scale work anticipating the Hollywood film composers’ styles for biblical epics … the vigour and spontaneity of Abravanel’s Utah performances … transferred to CD with great success” [Penguin Guide] “Nelsova’s Schelomo , with Abravanel’s support, is a fitting setting for the cellist who was Bloch’s own choice for the work.” “The Three Jewish Poems hints towards Respighi’s Roman triptych (then yet to be composed) … Bloch’s subtly coloured canvasses seem custom-built for an age increasingly attracted to late-romantic musical tone-painting. We are therefore greatly indebted to Sedares for these clear-headed, sensitively turned performances, extremely well engineered. Anyone with a taste for atmospheric evocations cannot fail to enjoy” [Gramophone]

Trois Poèmes Juifs (Three Jewish Poems) (1913) [25:46]

[1] Dance: Poco animato 8:53

[2] Rite: Calmo (Andante moderato) 7:16

[3] Funeral Procession: Lento assai 9:36

New Zealand Symphony Orchestra / James Sedares

Recorded October 1993 at Symphony House, Wellington, New Zealand

Producer/Engineer: Michael Fine Assistant Producer: Tamra Saylor Fine

Production Coordinator: Susan Napodano Technical Assistant: Geoffrey Eyles

[4] Schelomo, Hebraic Rhapsody for Cello and Orchestra* [19:19]

Zara Nelsova, cello* / Utah Symphony Orchestra / Abravanel

‘Israel’ Symphony [29:10]

[5] Adagio molto, ‘Prayer in the Desert’ 4:30

[6] Allegro agitato, ‘Yom Kippur’ 13:09

[7] Moderato, ‘Succoth’ 11:03

Blanche Christensen & Jean Basinger Fraenkel, sopranos

Christina Politis & Diane Heder, altos Don Watts, bass

Utah Symphony Orchestra / Maurice Abravanel

(4-7) Recorded April 1967 in Salt Lake City, Utah; Producer: Seymour Solomon

Engineer: Ed Friedner; Digital Remastering: David Baker

[4-7] Licensed from Vanguard Classics, [1]-[3] from Koch International

Mastered for Alto by Paul Arden-Taylor (www.dinmore-records.co.uk)