Serge Prokofiev: Symphonie Nr. 5, Skythische Suite op. 20; Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, Andrew Litton; 1 SACD BIS 2124; 01/14 (67'00) - Rezension von Remy Franck
Fundamental falsches Atmen beeinträchtigt die Wiedergabe der Fünften Symphonie von Sergei Prokofiev in dieser neuen Aufnahme unter Andrew Litton. Besonders der erste Satz leidet unter falschem Ein- und Ausatmen und einem daraus resultierenden schlechten Aufbau und schlechter Regulierung der Steigerungen und der Decrescendi. Das führt zu einer eindimensionalen und einfach oft lauten und nervösen Musik, selbst wenn manchmal interessante Farben hörbar werden. Read More →
Louis Langrée
(c) Benoît Limero
The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra has extended the contract of its music director, Louis Langrée (54), through its 125th anniversary season in 2019/20. Langrée has taken over this position in 2013. The French conductor is also Chief Conductor of the Camerata Salzburg and Music Director of the Mostly Mozart Festival at Lincoln Center in New York.
Dimitrij Kitajenko
Photo: Gerd Mothes
Pizzicato published today an interview with Russian conductor Dmitrij Kitajenko who is honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award of the International Classical Music Awards (ICMA). Kitajenko expresses himself on various topics, such as the performance of Tchaikovsky’s music (A conductor can make many wrong decisions and turn Tchaikovsky into a jam, something sweet and whiny), young conductors (The main problem for young conductors is that they do not take enough time to study), music directors Read More →
This year, Russian conductor Dmitrij Kitajenko is honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award of the International Classical Music Awards (ICMA). Born in 1940, Kitajenko was Music Director of the Moscow Philharmonic, the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Bergen Philharmonic and the KBS Symphony Orchestra in Seoul. Some of his most outstanding recordings were realized with the Gürzenich Orchestra in Cologne, notably the complete symphonies by Tchaikovsky (Oehms Classics), Shostakovich (Capriccio) and Prokofiev (Capriccio). Remy Franck met Dmitrij Kitajenko for an interview.
Dimitrij Kitajenko
Photo: Gerd Mothes
Maestro, have you been born into a musical family?
Not at all! My mother was a teacher and my father an engineer. However our house was next to the choir school of the St.Petersburg Boys Choir. Since my mother had noticed that I could sing and that I successfully tried to get some music out of our piano – it was kind of a toy for me at that time, just after the war, when real toys were not available – she let me take part in a competition. Read More →
Mario Capuana, Bonaventura Rubino: Requiem; Choeur de Chambre de Namur, Leonardo Gracia Alarcon; 1 CD Ricercar RIC 353; 6/14 (63’09) - Rezension von Guy Engels
Mario Capuana und Bonaventura Rubino sind zwei sizilianische Komponisten der Renaissance, von denen nur wenige ihrer zahlreichen Kompositionen Werke überliefert sind. Die nackten Zahlen, die Quantität sagt jedoch bekanntlich nichts über die Qualität der Musik. Die hat immerhin Leonardo Garcia Alarcon zu Recht bewogen, zwei Requiem-Vertonungen in einer wunderschönen Aufnahme einem breiteren Publikum bekannt zu machen. Read More →
Gustav Mahler: Symphonie Nr. 3 d-Moll; Ewa Marciniec, Alt, Knabenchor des Mainzer Domchores, Damenchor der Domkantorei Mainz, Staatsorchester Rheinische Philharmonie Koblenz, Daniel Raiskin; 1 CD Cavi-music 8553325; 12/13 (101'15) – Rezension von Remy Franck
Daniel Raiskin und die Rheinische Philharmonie Koblenz haben schon öfters gezeigt, dass sie Aufnahmen von hoher musikalischer Qualität liefern können, die man so nicht unbedingt von einem Orchester aus der Provinz erwarten würde. Read More →
David Stern
(c) Maria Rosenblatt
Palm Beach Opera (Florida) has appointed David Stern as chief conductor, effective June 1, 2015 for a three year term. Stern is the successor of Bruno Aprea, who left the house in 2012. He is the founder and director of the Paris-based opera studio and period-instrument ensemble, Opera Fuoco, as well as director of the Shanghai Baroque Festival and director of opera at the Crested Butte Music Festival in Colorado. He resides in Paris with his wife, violinist Katharina Wolff, and his two daughters.
EASY LISTENING
Mit einer Doppel-CD gibt das polnische Label Dux Zugang zu Werken eines vergessenen polnischen Komponisten, Alexander Kulikowski (1915-1993). Aus Vilnius stammend, ließ er sich nach dem Zweiten Weltkrieg in Warschau nieder, wo er unterrichtete und komponierte. Die erste CD enthält Klavierminiaturen und leicht zugängliche, melodische und eigentlich ganz nette Kammermusik, keine große Musik, aber feine Stücke fürs ‘easy listening’. Die zweite CD enthält Lieder, zum Teil auf eigene Texte des Komponisten und auf solche seiner Frau. Read More →
American conductor Joel Levine has announced that he will step down as the Oklahoma City Philharmonic’s music director at the end of the 2017-2018 season. Levine founded the orchestra in 1988.
Piotr Tchaikovsky
Russian Radio Orpheus – a member of the ICMA Jury – has been chosen as official media partner for the 15th International Tchaikovsky Competition which will be held in Moscow and Saint-Petersburg, Russia, from June 15 to July 3, 2015. This year the competition is dedicated to the 175th anniversary of Piotr I. Tchaikovsky. Read More →
