May 10, 2004
Delos Diary
Delos InsiderThursday, April 29
Jackie Gleason Theater
Miami, Florida
Dmitri Hvorostovsky, Constantine Orbelian and the Moscow Chamber Orchestra came to Florida, sang, played, and conquered, judging from reviews which appeared on May 3rd in the Miami Herald and Miami Sun-Sentinel.
A few excerpted quotes will illustrate what we mean.
Concerning Hvorostovsky: "his super-human breath control, his honeyed-sound, his legato subtle dynamic shadings and portamento, all placed in the service of musical expression at its most sublime … in Handel's popular "Ombra mai fu" from Serse, Hvorostovsky's column of sound was almost impossibly rich, stunning in every sense."
"It was hard not to be moved by the singer's intensity. And his way with a set of soulful Russian romances and another, even more soulful, set of Italian chestnuts had the crowd cheering with joy."
"The silver haired Siberian swain …sang with his customary firm line and tonal refinement." "In Russian romances, Hvorostovsky is unassailable."
"… Hvorostovsky's burnished singing and plangent tautly-focused expression starkly conveyed the world-weary essence of the song's mournful stoicism."
And the following comments on Orbelian and the MCO:
"Constantine Orbelian supported his soloist with superbly refined and well-blended orchestral playing. The pianist-turned conductor has grown into a very fine musician and clearly enjoys a strong rapport with his players."
"Everything from the seductive oboes to the sensual strings, (Orbelian's orchestra decidedly does not go for the cold vibrato-less sound of most Western chamber ensembles) gave notice of a contemporary sensibility looking back at our musical past with a smile."
Much of what thrilled the Floridians is available to you on Delos CDs — Hvorostovsky, Orbelian and the MCO —in all their glory.
May 07, 2004
Delos Diary
Delos InsiderJames DePreist may have relinquished his duties as Music Director of the Oregon Symphony, but he certainly isn't resting on his laurels. This next autumn he will become director of the Juilliard School of Music's Conducting and Orchestral Studies Department, one of the most prestigious teaching positions in the U.S.A.
As a foretaste of what's to come, he conducted the Juilliard student symphony a few nights ago at Carnegie Hall in a program which would test the skills of any major professional orchestra. The program: Aaron Kernis's "New Era Dance," Mozart's Symphony No. 41 "Jupiter," and Mahler's Symphony No. 1.
A review reports that "the Juilliard players responded well to him in a program that pushed their limits." Undoubtedly a lot more limits will be pushed when DePreist takes over completely in the fall. We predict the results will justify the hard work.
Listen to any of James DePreist's recordings with the Oregon Symphony on Delos and you'll see (and hear) what we mean.
May 06, 2004
New Hvorostovsky Release — Dramatic Performance of "Petersburg"
New Releases
International opera star Dmitri Hvorostovsky has electrified audiences everywhere. The great baritone is equally celebrated as a recitalist who brings to song literature the same intense emotional commitment, musical insight, and sheer vocal beauty. "Petersburg, a vocal poem" was composed for Mr. Hvorostovsky by the distinguished Russian composer Georgi Sviridov (1915–1998). The texts, by 20th century poet Alexandr Blok, reflect the traumatic state of mind and soul that permeated Russian society in the “Silver Age” of Russian arts and letters preceding World War I. Much celebrated in Russia, Sviridov’s songs and romances are unparalleled in their seamless union of poetry and music. Mr. Hvorostovsky, who has long championed Sviridov’s songs, has chosen the composer’s earliest vocal work as the companion piece for "Petersburg" on this remarkable album — The Six Romances set to words by Alexandr Pushkin, composed in 1935 when the composer was 19.
Raffaele Trevisani's 2nd Delos Release features Italian Flute Concertos
New Releases
Raffaele Trevisani, recognized as one of the outstanding flutists of his generation, has been praised consistently for his style, musicality and beautiful tone quality. One of the very few pupils of Sir James Galway, he has received his distinguished mentor’s enthusiastic approval. "I do not hesitate to say that he belongs to the best of the flutists of the day," to quote Sir James, speaking of Trevisani, who now also owns and plays Galway’s 14-carat gold Muramatsu flute. This new Delos recording features six flute concertos composed by 18th century Italian masters Antonio Vivaldi, Tomaso Albinoni, Giovanni Battista Pergolesi, Giuseppe Tartini, Baldassare Galuppi, and Luigi Boccherini.
May 05, 2004
Dennis Keene's Voices of Ascension offers "Hear My Prayer" with soloist Hei-Kyung Hong
New Releases
The long-awaited new recording by Dennis Keene's Voices of Ascension, Hear My Prayer, emerges with a vocal feast: a beautiful variety program of VOA favorites. Voices of Ascension is one of the premier all-professional choral ensembles in the world today, known for its superb intonation, precision of attack, and unsurpassed homogeneity of vocal sound from soprano to bass. "Sheer musical excellence," the New York Times wrote of an earlier VOA performance, "Mr. Keene drew an intensity from his singers that effectively tapped into both the meditative and ecstatic currents of the music." Dennis Keene has chosen a kaleidoscope of sacred choral works, fifteen in all by thirteen different composers. International opera star Hei-Kyung Hong brings her beautiful and distinctive lyric soprano to solos in four of the works.
Premiere Organ Recording from the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles
New Releases
Delos International is known for its recordings of outstanding organs played by distinguished organists. This newest addition to the Delos organ catalog is a real coup… the very first recording of the magnificent organ at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles, which is proving to be a stellar attraction at the new cathedral. The organ was commissioned from Dobson Pipe Organ Builders, Ltd. of Lake City Iowa, and includes vintage pipes from the old St. Vibiana Cathedral organ in Los Angeles. Cathedral Organist Samuel Soria has chosen a varied program to display the entire range of this exceptional instrument.
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 11, The Year 1905 - DePreist & Oregon
New Releases
This new recording gives DePreist and the Oregon Symphony the best opportunity yet to show what they have achieved together in their 20-plus years of musical partnership. One of Shostakovich’s most demanding and monumental symphonic statements, the Symphony No. 11 provides a musical canvas unlike any of his other works. The composer’s narration encompasses the sights, sounds, and emotions of the first Russian pre-revolutionary uprising and creates an overwhelming musical panorama portraying the futility of tyranny and humanity’s yearning for freedom. To quote DePreist: "Listening to this symphony with the events of 1905 in mind, one can surely visualize the scene. But the true message of the symphony lies much deeper and it is a message that is universal… the tendency of absolute power to be corruptive of the human spirit."
May 04, 2004
Khachaturian Centennial Album
New Releases
Delos observes the hundredth anniversary of Aram Khachaturian’s birth (1903–2003) with a spectacular new recording of familiar and unfamiliar works by the great Armenian composer. Constantine Orbelian conducts the "crème de la crème" Philharmonia of Russia in music from the ballet Spartacus, probably Khachaturian’s masterpiece, with its unique blend of exotic melody, arresting rhythm and brilliant orchestration. The Funeral Ode in Memory of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin was fashioned by Khachaturian in 1948 from a score he was composing for Mikhail Romm's documentary film on Lenin. In the Ode of Joy, luminous strings and harps set the stage for mezzo-soprano Marina Domashenko’s lovely solo extolling the beauty of nature and the motherland. As the Ode gathers momentum and orchestral richness, Domashenko is joined by the Spiritual Revival Choir of Russia for a radiant finale.
Delos Introduces "The Sound of the Italian Saxophone Quartet"
New Releases
You’ve never heard anything quite like the Italian Saxophone Quartet. It’s obvious almost immediately that the “sound” this group produces is very special. The four varieties of saxophone — soprano, alto, tenor and baritone — blend to produce a unique fusion of sound, sensuous and rich. The unity and spectrum of sound they produce is awe-inspiring and enable them to play a wide variety of original compositions and saxophone transcriptions with exhilarating bravura.
Shanghai Quartet - Beethoven Razumovsky Quartets
New Releases
The Shanghai Quartet says it best in the introductory statement included in this new release. "We saved Beethoven for our 20th anniversary. We believe that music of this stature is the kind of challenge and statement we wish to make on this special occasion … Chinese do not play music simply for entertainment, but to elicit profound thoughts. Such music is what traditional Chinese might play upon the death of a beloved, the birth of a child, upon leaving for war, or returning to peace."
May 03, 2004
Delos Diary
Delos InsiderIf I had a choice I would have liked to spend the afternoon of Saturday, May 1st, at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. Not only would I renew my memories of the fabulous 94-foot long model of a blue whale which hangs from the ceiling of the renovated Milstein Hall of Ocean Life, but I could also hear the East Coast premiere of Composer Bruce Adolphe's new composition "Oceanophony." The performance included hip-hop dancers and nine video screens showing underwater images. It must have been an exciting event.
Anyone interested in Bruce Adolphe's music can hear a generous sample of this work on Delos' Five American Clarinet Quintets (DE 3183), which features David Shifrin, clarinet, and members of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center.
Adolphe's offering, entitled "At the Still point, there the dance is" is played by Shifrin, Ida and Ani Kavafian, violins, Paul Neubauer, viola, and Fred Sherry, cello.
A most accessible composer, Adolphe is also an enthusiastic advocate of music education for young people. His output of over 100 compositions covers a wide range of commissions aimed at adult and young audiences. His own production company is named, rather whimsically, after his 37-year old parrot "Polly Rhythm."
Not to be outdone by its owner, the parrot is said to be "very serious about its singing" and does imitations of Beverly Sills and Teresa Stratas. Quite a stretch for a most unusual bird, I'd say.
I wonder if it's heard any of our recordings of Ewa Podles'? They would really test its talents.