MIECZYSLAW WEINBERG Symphony No.2 & Chamber Symphony No.2

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:48:33 +0000

“The lyrical Second Symphony is haunted by a restless melancholy …yet the result is in no way depressing. Chamber Symphony No.2 is a relatively late work and although it is freely rhapsodic, the mood is more positive and often songful…the nostalgic feeling returns in the central movement, but the atmosphere darkens in the long drawn finale which reaches a passionately plangent climax before its quietly resigned coda with a single tympani stroke resolution….both played with great eloquence and warmly and naturally recorded .” (Penguin Guide 3 stars)

Symphony No.2, Op. 30 (1945-6)

for String orchestra (32:31)

[1] I. Allegro moderato 13:22

[2] II. Adagio 9:34

[3] III. Allegretto 9:35

Chamber Symphony No.2, Op. 147 (1987) for String

orchestra & timpani (24:09)

[4] I. Allegro molto 8:53

[5] II. Pesante 5:02

[6] III. Andante sostenuto 10:14

Mieczysław Weinberg (1919-96) Piano Quintet / Moldavian Rhapsody / Violin Concerto

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:47:04 +0000

“the Piano Quintet does full justice to the densely packed chords and widely spaced spread of sound which Weinberg avowedly learnt from his mentor Shostakovich. It is engaging, expertly written and played with great address by the composer himself … To survive so much terror and retain such creative energy compels admiration. The Quintet may seem more rewarding for the surprising range of invention (eg. wild Irish fiddle). The performance is admirable. … Shostakovich declared how impressed he was with the Violin Concerto ‘splendidly interpreted by the violinist-Communist L.Kogan’ (a tart reference to Kogan’s politics.) This must be an authoritative performance … Kogan deals magnificently with a violin part that is seldom silent … Not surprisingly, Rhapsody on Moldavian Themes carries suggestions of the Enescu of the Romanian Rhapsodies. It receives a splendidly vigorous performance by Oistrakh” (Gramophone)

Piano Quintet in F Minor, Op.18 (1944) [40:00]

Mieczysław Weinberg, (piano); with the Borodin Quartet

[1] I. Moderato con moto 7:31

[2] II. Allegretto 5:56

[3] III. Presto 5:14

[4] IV. Largo 12:56

[5] V. Allegro agitato 8:21

[6] Rhapsody on Moldavian Themes, Op.47/2 (1949) 9:41

David Oistrakh (violin) & Mieczysław Weinberg (piano),

Violin Concerto in G minor, Op.67 (1959) [25:33]

Leonid Kogan, (violin), with Moscow P.O/ Kirill Kondrashin

[7] I. Allegro molto 7:02

[8] II. Allegretto 5:59

[9] III. Adagio 6:14

[10] IV. Allegro risoluto 6:17

Mieczyslaw Weinberg – Alto CD

MIECZYSLAW WEINBERG Symphony No.2 & Chamber Symphony No.2

Mieczysław Weinberg (1919-96) Piano Quintet / Moldavian Rhapsody / Violin Concerto