Too Darn Big

February 20, 2023, 7:00 pm

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This week we are ascending some of the most colossal musical mountains in existence — Arnold Schoenberg’s Gurrelieder and Havergal Brian’s Gothic Symphony, these are works that are (usually) too big to program on Exploring Music. These compositions are not only long, but they require a “symphony of a thousand.” Schoenberg’s Gurrelieder will be performed by the Philharmonia Orchestra and Chorus, City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus, and five soloists, conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen. And, for Havergal Brian’s Gothic Symphony, we will hear the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and Chorus, BBC Concert Orchestra and Choirs, Bach Choir, Brighton Festival Chorus, soloists, and this performance will be conducted by Martyn Brabbins.

Havergal Brian’s Gothic Symphony was staged by radio station 4MBS Classic FM, Queensland Music Festival and QPAC in Brisbane Australia in December 2010. The whole performance was filmed for excerpts to be used in the award winning documentary The Curse of the Gothic Symphony. Now, to mark the 50th anniversary of the death of Brian the entire performance of this gigantic symphony is available – it is the only film of a complete performance of the work anywhere in the world. Available on DVD and USB Card. https://www.4mbs.com.au/products/

Curse of the Gothic Symphony. trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfVg9vn4jCc

Interview in Thursday’s episode with Gary Thorpe, General Manager 4 MBS Classic FM

Playlist

Episode 1

Schoenberg, Arnold: Gurrelieder, Part 1 Prelude (excerpt)
Philharmonia Chorus and Voices, City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus and soloists/Salonen
Schoenberg: Gurrelieder
Signum 173
2:08

Schoenberg, Arnold: Gurrelieder (Part I, excerpt)
Philharmonia Chorus and Voices, City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus and soloists/Salonen
Schoenberg: Gurrelieder
Signum 173
1:33

Schoenberg, Arnold: Gurrelieder (Part I, excerpt)

Philharmonia Chorus and Voices, City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus and soloists/Salonen
Schoenberg: Gurrelieder
Signum 173
1:38

Schoenberg, Arnold: Gurrelieder (Part I, excerpt)
Philharmonia Chorus and Voices, City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus and soloists/Salonen
Schoenberg: Gurrelieder
Signum 173
1:00

Schoenberg, Arnold: Gurrelieder (Part I, excerpt)
Philharmonia Chorus and Voices, City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus and soloists/Salonen
Schoenberg: Gurrelieder
Signum 173
2:02

Hermann, Bernard: Veritgo Suite Prelude (excerpt)
Los Angeles Philharmonic/ Esa pekka Salonen
The Film Score
Sony 62700
1:00

Schoenberg, Arnold: Gurrelieder (Part I, excerpt)
Philharmonia Chorus and Voices, City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus and soloists/Salonen
Schoenberg: Gurrelieder
Signum 173
:40

Schoenberg, Arnold: Gurrelieder (Part I, excerpt)

Philharmonia Chorus and Voices, City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus and soloists/Salonen
Schoenberg: Gurrelieder
Signum 173
2:24

Schoenberg, Arnold: Gurrelieder (Part I, excerpt)
Philharmonia Chorus and Voices, City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus and soloists/Salonen
Schoenberg: Gurrelieder
Signum 173
41:23

Episode 2

Schoenberg, Arnold: Gurrelieder (Part I, excerpt)
Philharmonia Chorus and Voices, City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus and soloists/Salonen
Schoenberg: Gurrelieder
Signum 173
1:53

Schoenberg, Arnold: Gurrelieder (Part I, excerpt)
Philharmonia Chorus and Voices, City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus and soloists/Salonen
Schoenberg: Gurrelieder
Signum 173
2:46

Schoenberg, Arnold: Gurrelieder (Part I, excerpt)
Philharmonia Chorus and Voices, City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus and soloists/Salonen
Schoenberg: Gurrelieder
Signum 173
1:35

Schoenberg, Arnold: Gurrelieder Part II (excerpt)
Philharmonia Chorus and Voices, City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus and soloists/Salonen
Schoenberg: Gurrelieder
Signum 173
1:43

Schoenberg, Arnold: Gurrelieder Part I, II (excerpt)
Philharmonia Chorus and Voices, City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus and soloists/Salonen
Schoenberg: Gurrelieder
Signum 173
23:37

Schoenberg, Arnold: Gurrelieder Part III (excerpt)
Philharmonia Chorus and Voices, City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus and soloists/Salonen
Schoenberg: Gurrelieder
Signum 173
15:00

Episode 3

Schoenberg, Arnold: Gurrelieder Part III (excerpt)
Philharmonia Chorus and Voices, City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus and soloists/Salonen
Schoenberg: Gurrelieder
Signum 173
1:23

Schoenberg, Arnold: Gurrelieder Part III (excerpt)
Philharmonia Chorus and Voices, City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus and soloists/Salonen
Schoenberg: Gurrelieder
Signum 173
2:39

Schoenberg, Arnold: Gurrelieder Part III (excerpt)
Philharmonia Chorus and Voices, City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus and soloists/Salonen
Schoenberg: Gurrelieder
Signum 173
30:07

Schoenberg, Arnold: Three Piano Pieces, Op. 11, I (excerpt)
Pollini, piano
Schoenberg: The Piano Music
DG 471631
1:05

Brian, Havergal: Symphony No. 1, Gothic, I.
BBC National Orchestra of Wales & BBC Concert Orchestra, choirs and soloists/ Brabbins
Brian: Symphony No. 1 ‘Gothic’
Hyperion 67971
12:09

Episode 4

Brian, Havergal: Symphony No. 1, Gothic (excerpts)
BBC National Orchestra of Wales & BBC Concert Orchestra, choirs and soloists/ Brabbins
Brian: Symphony No. 1 ‘Gothic’
Hyperion 67971
00:47

Brian, Havergal: Symphony No. 1, Gothic
II. Slow

III. Scherzo Vivace
BBC National Orchestra of Wales & BBC Concert Orchestra, choirs and soloists/Brabbins
Brian: Symphony No. 1 ‘Gothic’
Hyperion 67971
25:34

Brian, Havergal: Symphony No. 1, Gothic, part 2 (excerpts)
BBC National Orchestra of Wales & BBC Concert Orchestra, choirs and soloists/Brabbins
Brian: Symphony No. 1 ‘Gothic’
Hyperion 67971
17:45

Episode 5

Brian, Havergal: Symphony No. 1, Gothic Part II. (excerpt)
BBC National Orchestra of Wales & BBC Concert Orchestra, choirs and soloists/Brabbins
Brian: Symphony No. 1 ‘Gothic’
Hyperion 67971
15:58

Brian, Havergal: Symphony No. 1, Gothic Part II.III. (excerpt)
BBC National Orchestra of Wales & BBC Concert Orchestra, choirs and soloists/Brabbins
Brian: Symphony No. 1 ‘Gothic’
Hyperion 67971
37:56