The symphony remained the pinnacle of achievement for many 20th century composers. This week, Bill McGlaughlin continues his multi-part exploration of this vibrant, exciting musical form with symphonies written between 1900 through 1920. Bill focuses on works rarely heard in concert, or on the radio for that matter: Alexander Scriabin’s Symphony No. 3 conducted by Riccardo Muti, an important interpreter of the Scriabin color wheel; George Enescu’s Symphony No. 2; and Samuel Barber’s Symphony No. 1, conducted by Marin Alsop.
Symphony, Part 10 (Alexander Scriabin to Samuel Barber)
Playlist
Episode 1
Alexander Scriabin: Symphony No. 3 in C min, Op. 43 – The Divine Poem, I
Philadelphia Orchestra/Riccardo Muti
Tchaikovsky: Romeo And Juliet Overture
EMI 49115; 25:46
George Enescu: Symphony No. 2 in A Major, Op. 17, I
George Enescu State Philharmonic Bucharest Orchestra/Horia Andreescu
Complete Orchestral Works, Vol. 2 – Symphony No. 2 in A Major, Op. 17 / Two Romanian Rhapsodies
Marco Polo 8.224142; 16:31
Karol Szymanowski: Symphony No. 4, Op. 60, Sinfonia Concertante, II
City Of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra/Rattle; Leif Ove Andsnes, piano
EMI 20th Century Classics
EMI 14576; 8:16
Episode 2
Karol Szymanowski: Symphony No. 4, Op. 60, Sinfonia Concertante, IV
City Of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra/Simon Rattle; Leif Ove Andsnes, piano
King Roger, Symphony No. 4
EMI 56823; 6:26
Karol Szymanowski: Symphony No. 3, Song of the Night, Op. 27, III
Polish Radio Chorus of Krakow/Wieslaw Ochman, director;Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra/Jerzy Semkow
Symphony No. 2, Symphony No. 3 ‘Song of the Night’, Concert Overture
EMI 65082; 8:51
Alexander Zemlinksy: Lyrische Symphonie, Op. 18
I. Langsam, Ich bin friedlos, ich bin durstig nach fernen Dingen
III. Von hier ab plötzlich breiter… Du bist die Abendwolke
VI. Sehr mässig, Vollende denn das letzte Lied
V. Feurig und kraftvoll: Befrei mich von den Banden deiner Süße, Lieb
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra/Riccardo Chailly; Håkan Hagegård, bass-baritone; Alessandra Marc, soprano
Lyrische Symphonie · Symphonische Gesänge
London 443569; 10:37, 13:22
Nikolai Myaskovsky: Symphony No. 6 in E-flat minor, Op. 23
II. Presto tenebroso — Andante moderato — Tempo I
Ural Philharmonic Orchestra/Dmitri Liss
Symphonies 6 & 10
Warner 63431; 7:40
Episode 3
Dmitri Shostakovich: Symphony No. 1 in f minor
Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra/Valery Gergiev
Shostakovich: Symphonies Nos 1 & 15
Mariinsky O502; :52, 31:46, 4:32
Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra/Valery Gergiev
Shostakovich: Symphonies Nos 1 & 15
Mariinsky O502; :52, 31:46, 4:32
William Walton: Symphony No. 1 in B-flat Major
IV. Maestoso – Allegro Brioso Ed Ardentemente
The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra/William Walton
Walton Conducts Walton The 1964 New Zealand Tour
Bridge 9133; 12:51
Episode 4
Howard Hanson: Symphony No. 1 in e minor, Nordic
I. Andante Solenne, Allegro Con Forza
II. Andante Teneramente, Con Semplicita
Symphonies No. 1 “Nordic” & No. 2 “Romantic” / Elegy In Memory Of Serge Koussevitsky
Seattle Symphony Orchestra/Gerard Schwarz
Delos 3073; 18:53
I. Andante Solenne, Allegro Con Forza
II. Andante Teneramente, Con Semplicita
Symphonies No. 1 “Nordic” & No. 2 “Romantic” / Elegy In Memory Of Serge Koussevitsky
Seattle Symphony Orchestra/Gerard Schwarz
Delos 3073; 18:53
William Grant Still: Symphony No. 1, Afro-American
II. Adagio
III. Animato
Detroit Symphony Orchestra/Neeme Järvi
Still: Symphony No. 1 · Ellington: The River
Chandos 9154; 8:24
Howard Hanson: Symphony No. 2, Op. 30, Romantic II. Andante Con Tenerezza
Seattle Symphony Orchestra/Gerard Schwarz
Symphonies No. 1 “Nordic” & No. 2 “Romantic” / Elegy In Memory Of Serge Koussevitsky
Delos 3073; 7:23
George Antheil: A Jazz Symphony
New World Symphony Orchestra/Michael Tilson Thomas; Michael Linville, piano
New World Jazz
RCA 68798; 11:45
Episode 5
Aaron Copland: Symphony For Organ & Orchestra
II. Scherzo
III. Finale
New York Philharmonic Orchestra/Bernstein; E. Power Biggs, organ
Early Orchestral Works 1922-1935
Sony 47232 2; 18:38, 2:00
II. Scherzo
III. Finale
New York Philharmonic Orchestra/Bernstein; E. Power Biggs, organ
Early Orchestral Works 1922-1935
Sony 47232 2; 18:38, 2:00
Virgil Thomson: Symphony No. 2 In C, II
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra/James Sedares
Thomson, V.: Symphonies Nos. 2 and 3 / Symphony on a Hymn Tune
Naxos 8.559022; 8:22
Samuel Barber: Symphony No. 1, I-III
Royal Scottish National Orchestra/Marin Alsop
Barber, S.: Orchestral Works, Vol. 1 – Symphonies Nos. 1 and 2 / First Essay for Orchestra (Royal Scottish National Orchestra, M. Alsop)
Naxos 8.559024; 21:36
