Phaedra [Import] [Limited Edition] [Original recording remastered]

1. Phaedra

2. Mysterious Semblance At The Strand O Nighmares

3. Movements Of A Visionary

4. Sequent C

Phaedra,Tangerine Dream,EMI Japan,Electronic,Latin,New Age / Meditation,Rock

Music

jazz

music

Jazz

Average customer rating: Not quite as good as I had hoped Revolutionary for it's time A VIRTUAL ACID TRIP TOP 3 TD Very overrated

Phaedra Tangerine Dream Manufacturer: Virgin Records Us ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Electronica | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Germany | Continental Europe | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | New Age | Styles | Music Meditation | New Age | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Rubycon Stratosfear Ricochet Tangram Exit ASIN: B00000DR5E Release Date: 1992-06-29

Tracks:

1. Phaedra
2. Mysterious Semblance at the Strand of Nightmares
3. Movements of a Visionary
4. Sequent C'

Amazon.com essential recording

This 1974 masterpiece from Christopher Franke, Edgar Froese, and Peter Baumann ebbs and flows with richly dark soundscapes of electronic sounds and synth. Phaedra was a progenitor for much ambient--and some dance--music, influencing such artists as Steve Roach. After listening to Phaedra it's easy to understand why. The signature pulsing of thick, beautiful Tangerine Dream synth falls across the ambient treasures here, pulling along the orchestral dreamscape before oozing aside for thick washes of expansive sound. The now-classic title cut is both soothing and ghostly, throbbing with subtle sequences and twisted metallic calls before diving into a swamp of nightmarish whistles and hoots. "Mysterious Semblance" soars and swoops like a lovely electronic eagle, bringing tripped-out light and cosmic dignity to the collection. This and the follow-up Rubycon are juicy pieces to the Tangerine Dream pie. --Karen Karleski

Customer Reviews:

Not quite as good as I had hoped.......2007-07-02

After reading so many comments about this album, I decided to pick it up myself. I bought "Phaedra" at the same time as "Zeit", and had listened to Zeit first. After having enjoyed Zeit quite a bit, I was optimistic about Phaedra. I've listened to it now, and I have to say, it wasn't quite as good as I had hoped.

I actually enjoyed Track #2 in this album the most. It wasn't quite as boring as the rest of the tracks, and I liked the flanging and other such effects used. This track is the reason I gave this album higher than two stars. Track #1 wasn't all that bad either, but the first half was a bit too repetitious. My primary gripe about this album is the last two tracks; something about them made me groan. They contained too many cheesy 70s style sounds mixed with flutes and Organs that I felt were more suitable for a medieval themed movie. Perhaps they are just too "cheery" for my taste. I really didn't enjoy them.

Another complaint I have about this album is the length. The first two tracks are average length for an Ambient CD, while the others are only eight minutes and two minutes long. It's almost as if the Authors didn't know what sound they were going for, so they just ended the tracks abruptly.

Like I said previously, I really enjoyed other albums by Tangerine Dream, such as Zeit. I just didn't enjoy this album as much. Most of my opinion might be attributed to the fact that I enjoy darker, more supernatural Ambient CDs. Some favorites of mine include "On Land", by Brian Eno, and "Selected Ambient Works Volume II", by Aphex Twin. If you enjoy the darker side of Ambient, then you might want to avoid Phaedra, and grab these albums instead (or Zeit).

Revolutionary for it's time.......2007-06-19

I have been a HUGE Tangerine Dream fan since the late '80s. I was very excited to purchase all of their older albums at that time and listened with great anticipation and sweet satisfaction to every one.



Phaedra was a bit of a disappointment for me. Phaedra, although it was something completely new and revolutionary as far as music goes, seemed to be directionless and dispassionate.



TD were still in the process of taming the musical beast known as he Moog synthesizer and I get the impression that they were still trying to get a feel as to exactly what they could do with it.



Yes. Phaedra was unlike anything ever heard at the time and the music is very spacey and atmospheric, but it really doesn't go anywhere. There are a few points that the music evokes certain feelings, but just when you get into it, the tone or timbres shift without warning and the mood is lost.



I do still listen to this CD from time to time, just to understand where TD came from and to appreciate how much they've evolved over the years. I do, however recommend "Phaedra 2005" which is basically the same album, but updated with "modern" synthesizers and keyboards and contains a newly recorded track "Delfi". This version seems to have a bit more going for it than the original. It is available through TD's website www.tangerinedream.org.



Peace

A VIRTUAL ACID TRIP.......2007-05-18

I was introduced to this album along with "YOU" by Gong on the same evening. Needless to say, I haven't been the same since. I was into so-called "progressive rock" at the time. Groups as disparate as Jethro Tull, the Mahavishnu Orchestra, ELP and Yes, and perhaps everyone else, were trying to "out space" each other. Tangerine Dream were, quite frankly, the most far out of them all. In fact, they dispensed with drums, bass and vocals altogether (leaving three guys on a stage with keyboards (Kraftwork, anyone?). Picture it as a "Steve Reich meets King Crimson meets Gong" instrumental type of art. This stuff has since been done to death, but, at the time, it was truly breathtaking. The music is similar to some so-called "serious" European composers of the era. Phaedra is, to my ears, the first strong, cohesive album of the group and marks their departure from an initial experimental phase into their classic period. This album was highly influential, preceeding Mike Oldfield's "Tubular Bells" and the Vangelis "Chariots of Fire" music and serving as an obvious influence. New comers to this music may think there is nothing special here. That is because there has been a whole industry of film music based on the style of this group. In fact, Tangerine Dream later produced a number of film scores ("Sorcerer" being one of the first). Tangerine Dream were also pioneers for such new Wave groups as Ice House and what passed as "Eurodance" music of the '90s. Firmly rooted in the classical traditions of Stockhausen, Steve Reich and Terry Rielly,as well as the avant Garde Jazz and "progressive rock", Tangerine Dream crosses all styles and represents none (I like to think of it as music you would listen to as you float in a spacesuit around Werner Von Braun's space station). They are one of the few truly innovative and original groups around. Call them "noise makers"? Maybe. However, a good definition of "music" is "organized sound". THAT definition describes them well. Phaedra is one of their best albums. Check it out!!

TOP 3 TD.......2007-02-09

A classic of the ambient genre, primal electronic music for the brain. Anyone giving this album a 1 star based on comparisons to other (commercial) music are completely missing the point of this album & music.

Very overrated.......2007-01-08

Like every album, some say it's a masterpiece, some say it's a disaster.
I respect both, for me, this album is overrated. It is hard to find any melody in this, it looks like the keyboard player fell asleep on his keyboard, just like I felt asleep on my lazy boy. Another overrated product.

Average customer rating: Essential Performances from a Great & Beloved Singer

Philips and Decca Recordings, 1961-1979 (Limited Edition) Janet Baker , John Shirley-Quirk , Graham Sheen , Johann Sebastian Bach , Ludwig van Beethoven , Hector Berlioz , Giovanni Bononcini , Benjamin Britten , Giulio Caccini , and Antonio Caldara Manufacturer: Philips ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by J.S. Bach | Bach, Johann Sebastian | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Beethoven | Beethoven, Ludwig van | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Berlioz | Berlioz, Hector | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Britten | Britten, Sir Benjamin | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Caldara, Antonio | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Chausson, Ernest | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Giordani, Giuseppe | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Gluck | Gluck, Christoph W. | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Handel | Handel, George Frideric | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Franz Joseph Haydn | Haydn, Franz Joseph | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Martini | Martini, Giovanni Battist | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Paisiello | Paisiello, Giovanni | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Pergolesi | Pergolesi, Gio Battista | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Piccinni, Niccolò | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Purcell, Henry | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Rameau | Rameau, Jean Philippe | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Ravel, Maurice | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Alessandro Scarlatti | Scarlatti, Alessandro | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Schubert | Schubert, Franz | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Stradella | Stradella, Alessandro | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Purcell, Henry | Composers | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music London Philharmonic Orchestra | ( L ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Cantatas | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music English | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Cantatas | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Similar Items: The Very Best of Janet Baker Artistry of Elly Ameling (Coll) Ernest Ansermet: Decca Recordings 1953-1967 Purcell: Dido and Aeneas / James, Lewis, Baker, Herincx Baker Sings Gluck, Lully, Marcello, etc. ASIN: B0000B0A0Q Release Date: 2003-11-25

Customer Reviews:

Essential Performances from a Great & Beloved Singer.......2004-01-09

For those of us who grew up on Janet Baker's recordings (and were lucky enough to hear her "live" as well), the sound of her voice and her singular artstic personality - British restraint coupled with fierce emotional and spiritual commitment - are indelibly imprinted in our minds and hearts. The closest current equivalent is Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, another superb artist who has charted her own course, and not surprisingly there is some overlap of repertoire, in the music of J.S. Bach, of course, but also Berlioz's Didon and Beatrice, Handel's Ariodante and Britten's Phaedra (composed for Baker).
This wonderful compilation is complementary to EMI's 2-CD "The Very Best of Janet Baker" -- no overlap of repertoire whatsoever. Unlike that set, which focused on concert repertoire (with orchestra or piano) there's a generous sampling here of Baker's operatic roles including Handel, Mozart, Purcell, Rameau, Gluck, and Britten. Also welcome is "Phaedra," one of Britten's strongest late works. And it's good to have the Berlioz: "Cleopatre" and "Herminie" complete, the big aria from "Beatrice et Benedict." (Why EMI included nothing from her recording of the last 2 scenes of "Les Troyens" is unfathomable.) The wide time-span allows us to hear Baker's voice in all its youthful, "sappy" warmth, as well as in its artistic maturity (though truth to tell she was pretty much a complete artist from the start). There are a few signs of wear in later items, nothing serious, in fact rather less than I remembered. I could have done with fewer of the "Arie Amorose" in favor of more cuts from her Gluck LP, which I believe has never been issued complete on CD, but that's just personal preference. The focus here is entirely on orchestrally accompanied works (or, in the case of the marvelous early disc of Ravel, Chausson & Delage songs, with chamber ensemble) so for Baker the supreme interpreter of English, German and French song you'll need to go elsewhere (the EMI has a fair sampling, especially of her Schubert). But everything here is indispensible.

Average customer rating: Pärt fans take note Profound and intense A contemporary tour de force

World To Come Manufacturer: Koch Int'l Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Part | Part, Arvo | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Tavener | Tavener, John Kenneth | ( T ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Electronic | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music | Computer General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Tango | Latin Music | Styles | Music Similar Items: Kinship Oblivion Osvaldo Golijov: Ayre Golijov: Yiddishbbuk Osvaldo Golijov: Ainadamar ASIN: B0000CABC4 Release Date: 2003-10-21

Tracks:

1. Osvaldo Golijov: Mariel
2. David Lang: World To Come I
3. David Lang: World To Come II
4. David Lang: World To Come III
5. David Lang: World To Come IV
6. Arvo Part: Fratres for Four Cellos
7. John Tavener: Lament for Phaedra

Customer Reviews:

Pärt fans take note.......2005-08-12

Beyond the musical composition there is an intangible, almost mystical quality to many of Pärt's albums, especially my personal favorite - Tabula Rasa. Maya's version of Fratres is what initially attracted me to this album. However, this cut is actually now one of my least favorites. Track #1 alone would make this album worth the price. Maya's playing captures something that is beyond words and beyond any attempts to evaluate it based solely on its musicality. Buy it.

Profound and intense.......2005-03-23

It is impossible to describe this music, but suffice it to say that this CD contains some of the most compelling and interesting new music I've ever heard. The compositions have great emotional/spiritual depth and intensity, and Beiser's playing is strong and authoritative.

A contemporary tour de force.......2003-11-04

Maya Beiser's new recording is a sensational exploration into the world of multi-track recording. "Mariel" is a spiritual work, centered around what sounds like a South American folk song. "World to Come," by far the largest work on this disc, with vocals and multiple tracks of cellos, is inspirational and hopeful. A really enjoyable disc.

Average customer rating: Britten's lesser operas? Britten's lesser operas

Britten Conducts Britten: Operas 2 Manufacturer: Decca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Britten | Britten, Sir Benjamin | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Brannigan, Owen | ( B ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Bainbridge, Elisabeth | ( B ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Britten, Sir Benjamin | A to B | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music English | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: Britten Conducts Britten: Operas 1 Britten Conducts Britten Britten Conducts Britten Janácek: Operas Delius: A Village Romeo and Juliet ASIN: B000654OU6 Release Date: 2005-03-15

Customer Reviews:

Britten's lesser operas?.......2007-05-29

Of course it's all a matter of taste. I find most of Britten's operas first class with no exception. 'Gloriana' is an under-recorded jewel, full of melody and emotion. 'Turn of the Screw' a masterpiece of claustrophobic sense. 'Rape of Lucretia' full of chamber sensibility. And the performances cannot be bettered.
Need I say more? DECCA is paying an enormous service to collectors with these releases, especially those who have a real concern with storage space. They deserve 10 stars, if available.

Britten's lesser operas.......2007-05-13

I loved Britten's Operas 1. So I snatched this item up right away. It's o.k. but not as good as the first collection. Death in Venice was the only opera on these discs that I really cared for. It's every bit as good as the Hickox version so if you already have one there's really no need to buy the other. As for the other operas they're nowhere near as good as Billy Budd, Peter Grimes, or Albert Herring. For those just discovering Britten's operas start out with the first boxed set.

Average customer rating:

Phaedra Tangerine Dream Manufacturer: EMI Japan ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Electronica | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Germany | Continental Europe | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | Latin Music | Styles | Music General | New Age | Styles | Music Meditation | New Age | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music Dance & DJ | Imports | Stores | Music New Age | Imports | Stores | Music Latin Music | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Rubycon Tago Mago Sheer Heart Attack Aqualung Caravanserai ASIN: B00028XEEE Release Date: 2004-08-02

Tracks:

1. Phaedra
2. Mysterious Semblance at the Strand of Nightmares
3. Movements of a Visionary
4. Sequent C'

Average customer rating: Greek Classic With A Modern Twist

Phaedra Mikis Theodorakis Manufacturer: Theodorakis ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Greece | Continental Europe | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | International | Styles | Music Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music International | Imports | Stores | Music Soundtracks | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Iphigenia Electra Elegy of the Uprooting Electra Jazz Samba ASIN: B00007DX4O Release Date: 2006-10-23

Tracks:

1. Love Theme Form Phaedra
2. Rendezvous
3. Ship to Shore
4. London's Fog
5. One More Time
6. Agapi Mou
7. Only You
8. Fling
9. Candlelight
10. Rodostamo
11. Love Theme From Phaedra
12. Goodbye, John Sebastian

Customer Reviews:

Greek Classic With A Modern Twist.......2007-01-21

Of course I was just a tiny baby when the movie "Phaedra" was released in the early 1960's, but both the film and the soundtrack left a lasting impression. I lost the original LP version long ago & kept trying to locate another copy ever since--so this Amazon listing was a godsend. Despite the fact that it involved an overseas purchase, confirmation & delivery verification was timely--in fact I received the product earlier than the expected date. The film starring beautiful Melina Mercouri and a strangely cast Anthony Perkins is a modern version of the ancient Phaedra story. Phaedra is a queen married to a powerful & self-involved ruler. Due to the jealousy of Aphrodite, Phaedra falls fatally in love with her stepson. In the modern version the King owns a shipyard & parallels with the Onasis dynasty are pretty obvious.

The quality of the CD is excellent. You'd probably have to be a vintage movie fan to be interested, but the Love Theme is one of the best and conveys the destructive power of compulsive love & desire.

Cleopatra
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf

Average customer rating:

Britten - The Rescue of Penelope / Hagley, Ainsley, Wyn-Rogers, J. Baker ~ Phaedra / L. Hunt; Hallé Orch., Nagano Benjamin Britten , Hallé Orchestra , Kent Nagano , Janet Baker , Lorrain Hunt , Alison Hagley , John Mark Ainsley , Catherine Wyn-Rogers , and William Dazeley Manufacturer: Erato ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Britten | Britten, Sir Benjamin | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Similar Items: Peter Lieberson: Neruda Songs ASIN: B000005E41 Release Date: 1996-06-11

Tracks:

1. The Rescue Of Penelope: Part One : Eight Years Have Passed
2. The Rescue Of Penelope: Yet Not All Reached Their Homes
3. The Rescue Of Penelope: Worse Still, The Island
4. The Rescue Of Penelope: Children Have Died Of Want
5. The Rescue Of Penelope: Yet Some Trust In An End
6. The Rescue Of Penelope: Your Prayer Is Answered
7. The Rescue Of Penelope: Long Suffering Odysseus
8. The Rescue Of Penelope: Listen, The Voices Of The Gods
9. The Rescue Of Penelope: Part Two : I, Athene, Rise To The Edge Of Night
10. The Rescue Of Penelope: When I See The Sorrow Of Mortal Odysseus
11. The Rescue Of Penelope: How loud the spring sounds all of a sudden
12. The Rescue Of Penelope: Bold. - Telemachus, watch the shadow on the wall!
13. The Rescue Of Penelope: There it is before you
14. The Rescue Of Penelope: Listen, Lords of Ithaca
15. The Rescue Of Penelope: Telemachus, be swift!
16. The Rescue Of Penelope: Now there is silence
17. Phaedra: Prologue : 'In May, In Brilliant Athens'
18. Phaedra: Recitative : 'My Lost And Dazzled Eyes'
19. Phaedra: Presto : 'You Monster'
20. Phaedra: Recitative : 'O Gods Of Wrath'
21. Phaedra: Adagio : 'My Time's Too Short'

Average customer rating: Passion in Contemporary American Music Important pieces from an important American composer Everything you'd expect

George Rochberg: Black Sounds; Cantio Sacra; Phaedra George Rochberg , Gil Rose , Mary Nessinger , and Boston Modern Orchestra Project Manufacturer: Naxos American ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music 4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: George Rochberg: Symphony No. 2; Imago Mundi Rochberg: String Quartets Nos. 3-6 Rochberg: Eden, Out of Time & Out of Space George Rochberg: Symphony No. 5; Black Sounds; Transcendental Variations Ivanovs: Symphonies Nos. 8 & 20 ASIN: B00006LI1Q Release Date: 2002-10-22

Tracks:

1. Black Sounds - Gil Rose
2. Versus. Choralis In Cantu - Gil Rose
3. Versus. Choralis In Cantu - Gil Rose
4. Versus. Choralis In Tenore - Gil Rose
5. Versus. Choralis In Cantu - Gil Rose
6. Versus. Choralis In Cantu - Gil Rose
7. Versus. Biemium Contrapumento Duplici - Gil Rose
8. Versus. Choralis In Cantu - Gil Rose
9. Versus. Choralis In Tenore - Gil Rose
10. Versus. Choralis In Basso - Gil Rose
11. Versus. Choralis In Basso - Gil Rose
12. Versus. Choralis In Cantu - Gil Rose
13. Versus. Choralis In Cantu Coloratu - Gil Rose
14. Aria: 'In May, In Brilliant Athens' - Mary Nessinger
15. Orchestral Interlude: Black Sails - Mary Nessinger
16. Aria: 'You Monster!' - Mary Nessinger
17. Orchestral Interlude: Theseus' Homecoming - Mary Nessinger
18. Supplication: 'Thesus, I Heard The Deluge Of Your Voice' - Mary Nessinger
19. Cabaletta: 'My Last Calamity Has Come' - Mary Nessinger
20. Orchestral Postlude: The Death Of Hippolytus - Mary Nessinger

Customer Reviews:

Passion in Contemporary American Music.......2003-06-24

This CD consisting of three works by the contemporary American composer George Rochberg (b. 1918)will be a revelation to those listeners who shy away from modern music as cold, overly technical, and cerebral. Rochberg began his compositional career writing predominantly in an atonal idiom. Beginning in the mid-1960s he began writing tonal music as well, and his more recent compositions are predominantly tonal in character.In fact, many American composers, among them, Ives, Copland, Seigmeister, Orenstein, have moved between modernistic and more traditional musical styles at various points in their lives.

Back to passion. Of the three selections on this disc, two are wildly emotional affairs with themes of uncontrollable love and lust and of murder. I was gripped in particular by "Phaedra" (1973) which Rochberg describes as "a monodrama in seven scenes."
This work is based on Racine's play, which in turn is based upon Euripides. It is a tale of Phaedre's incestous love for Hippolytus, the son of her husband, Theseus. The piece is in seven movements four of which are for mezzo-soprano, speaking in the voice of Phaedre, and three of which are for small chamber orchestra alone. The vocal lines are passionate and declamatory and express to the hilt the feelings of love, lust, and uncontrollable rage. Mezzo-soprano Mary Nessinger is outstanding in this performance. Fury comes through her voice, as she handles large vocal leaps and lets her voice snarl with anger. The Boston Modern Orchestra Project complements her voice in the arias and in the interludes, but this performance belongs to Ms. Nessinger.

This disc also includes a ballet, "Black Sounds" (1965) written for a ballet called "The Act" which appeared on television in 1965. This music too tells a passionate tale of murder. It opens with a sharp, loud passage for strings and brass and, although it ends softly as the deed is done, the music continues with high intensity for its 17 minute duration.

The final work on this CD, "Canta Sacra" (1953) is a transcription of a short set of 12 organ variations by the baroque composer Samuel Scheidt. This music comes as something of a relief to the two outer works on the CD. It is moving and elevated music, well transcribed for orchestra, with little of the visceral, wrenching character of "Phaedre" or "Black Sounds."

George Rothberg supervised the recording of the CD and wrote program notes. The disc is part of Naxos's series of American Classics.

Important pieces from an important American composer.......2002-11-03

George Rochberg, now in his 80s, is one of America's finest living composers. He first burst into the American concertgoers' awareness with the uproar attending the première and recording of his Third String Quartet; it was one of the very first 'eclectic' works in an era of fairly strict serialism/atonalism/aleatorism and there was good deal of huffing and puffing about it amongst the academics, who implied it was meretricious. Needless to say, it lasted longer than their criticisms did. He had felt a need to alter his previously serial/atonal style after his young son died in 1964, and he was thrown into deep grief. He worked himself out of this crisis by developing his eclectic style, one which makes use of all prior musical styles as the need is felt.

The earliest piece, the Cantio Sacra (1953) is a rich tonal orchestral transcription of a set of organ variations on 'Warum betrübst du dich, mein Herr' by German Baroque composer Samuel Scheidt. Rochberg says he has always been fascinated by the variation form, and indeed this fascination led to the composition of his well-known 'Caprice Variations' for solo violin some twenty years later. It and Rzewski's 'The People United Will Never Be Defeated' are the two highest peaks in late 20th-century American variation form.

'Black Sounds', a piece for seventeen winds, was extracted from his larger wind piece, 'Apocalyptica', and dates from 1965. It was used by choreographer Anna Sokolow for her 'The Act' in which a murder is portrayed. The seventeen minutes of music is intense and unrelenting, although easily assimilable, and is highly chromatic.

'Phaedra', a monodrama for mezzo and orchestra, the longest piece on the disc, uses Robert Lowell's translation of Racine's 'Phèdre', extracting those passages in which Phaedra herself speaks. It tells the story of Phaedra's insane love for the son of Theseus, her new husband. Theseus's death is reported, Phaedra confesses her love to the son, Hippolytus, and only later is it learned that Theseus is not, in fact, dead. She lies to Theseus, claiming that Hippolytus tried to seduce her; Theseus orders his son's death and she begs for him to be spared, but Theseus remains firm and Hippolytus is put to death. Phaedra takes poison, but before she dies she confesses to Theseus that it was she who loved Hippolytus, and that his son was in fact in love with another. Her dramatic and moving final aria ('My last calamity has come') ends with these words: 'I killed myself and what was worse I wasted my life for pleasures I have never tasted. My lover flees me still, and my last gasp is for the flesh I failed to clasp.' This is followed by an orchestral postlude, 'The Death of Hippolytus', that brings the tragedy to a mournful ending.

The Boston Modern Orchestra Project is a group new to me. They were founded in 1996 and make it their mission to give performances of important twentieth century music as well as newly composed pieces, mostly American. They have commissioned several works, and just as important, are dedicated to giving second performances of significant pieces that would otherwise continue languishing unperformed. To this listener they seem remarkably qualified for these tasks; these performances are electrifying.

Strongly recommended.

Everything you'd expect.......2002-10-28

This album includes recordings of works that have been performed at BMOP's concerts. Performances are steller and the combination of works does a great job of sampling different works from a very versatile composer.

BMOP is a young orchestra that has had a big impact on Boston's music scene in recent years. I've been attending BMOP concerts from the beginning, including the concerts where these works were performed, and it's great to finally have recordings from them!

Average customer rating: DREADFUL LIBRETTO: GREAT OPERA

Britten: The Rape of Lucretia; Phaedra Manufacturer: Polygram Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Britten | Britten, Sir Benjamin | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Bainbridge, Elisabeth | ( B ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Britten, Sir Benjamin | A to B | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music English | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Similar Items: Britten - The Rape of Lucretia / Rigby, Rolfe-Johnson, Harries, Smythe, Van Allan, Opie, Owens, Pope, Friend, English National Opera Britten: Holy Sonnets, Billy Budd, etc. / Britten, Glossop, Pears, et al Britten - Death in Venice / Peter Pears · John Shirley-Quirk · James Bowman · Kenneth Bowen · Stuart Bedford Leos Janacek: Vec Makropulos (The Makropulos Case) / Lachian Dances Britten: Albert Herring ASIN: B0000041WC Release Date: 2003-04-08

Tracks:

1. Phaedra: In May, in brilliant Athens - Janet Baker
2. Phaedra: Oh Gods of wrath - Janet Baker
3. Phaedra: My time's too short, your highness - Janet Baker
4. The Rape of Lucretia: Act I: Scene 1: Rome is now ruled by the Etruscan upstart - Peter Pears
5. The Rape of Lucretia: Act I: Scene 1: It is an axiom among kings - Heather Harper
6. The Rape of Lucretia: Act I: Scene 1: Here the thirsty evening - Peter Pears
7. The Rape of Lucretia: Act I: Scene 1: Who reaches heaven first - John Shirley-Quirk
8. The Rape of Lucretia: Act I: Scene 1: Maria was unmasked at a masked ball - Bryan Drake
9. The Rape of Lucretia: Act I: Scene 1: Collatinus is politically astute - Peter Pears
10. The Rape of Lucretia: Act I: Scene 1: There goes a happy man! - Benjamin Luxon
11. The Rape of Lucretia: Act I: Scene 1: Tarquinius does not dare - Bryan Drake/Peter Pears
12. The Rape of Lucretia: Act I: Scene 1: My horse! My horse!...Tarquinius does not wait - Peter Pears
13. The Rape of Lucretia: Act I: Scene 2: Their spinning-wheel unwinds - Heather Harper
14. The Rape of Lucretia: Act I: Scene 2: Listen! I heard a knock - Janet Baker
15. The Rape of Lucretia: Act I: Scene 2: Time treads upon the hands of women - Heather Harper
16. The Rape of Lucretia: Act I: Scene 2: The oatmeal slippers of sleep - Heather Harper

Tracks:

1. The Rape of Lucretia: Act II: Scene 1: The prosperity of the Etruscans - Heather Harper
2. The Rape of Lucretia: Act II: Scene 1: She sleeps as a rose - Heather Harper
3. The Rape of Lucretia: Act II: Scene 1: Within this frail crucible of light - Bryan Drake
4. The Rape of Lucretia: Act II: Scene 1: Lucretia!...What do you want? - Bryan Drake/Janet Baker
5. The Rape of Lucretia: Act II: Scene 1: Interlude: Here in this scene - Peter Pears/Heather Harper
6. The Rape of Lucretia: Act II: Scene 2: Oh! What a lovely day! - Jenny Hill/Elizabeth Bainbridge
7. The Rape of Lucretia: Act II: Scene 2: We'll leave the orchids for Lucretia - Elizabeth Bainbridge
8. The Rape of Lucretia: Act II: Scene 2: Flowers bring to every year - Janet Baker
9. The Rape of Lucretia: Act II: Scene 2: You were right - Jenny Hill
10. The Rape of Lucretia: Act II: Scene 2: Lucretia! Lucretia! - John Shirley-Quirk
11. The Rape of Lucretia: Act II: Scene 2: Last night Tarquinius ravished me - Janet Baker
12. The Rape of Lucretia: Act II: Scene 2: This dead hand lets fall - John Shirley-Quirk
13. The Rape of Lucretia: Act II: Scene 2: Epilogue: Is it all? - Heather Harper

Customer Reviews:

DREADFUL LIBRETTO: GREAT OPERA.......2006-08-31

Lucretia is probably the worst libretto Britten ever set. Its awkward combination of the classical with the Christian, the slips into dated vernacular or the high-flown and pretentiously poetic, all conspire to set it on a level with Tippett at his most embarrassing. Was the composer just not strong enough with his librettist, Ronald Duncan (several of whose plays he had written incidental music for)? He certainly got what he needed out of Eric Crozier, Myfanwy Piper, even E.M.Forster - often by bullying and insisting on his own way.

It's a shame for he wrote some of his loveliest and most beautiful music in this, the first of his chamber operas. He was already a master of his slimmed-down orchestra, something he had learnt from his time writing for Post Office documentaries and various left-wing plays. Just listen to the evocation of a sultry Latin night in the opening scene with its chirruping crickets and booming bullfrogs. Or the thrill of the wild Ride to Rome. And here (in `She sleeps as a rose upon the night') is the first of those magically dreamy nocturnes that recur in later operas like Albert Herring and The Turn of the Screw. The vocal lines are also memorable, tuneful and among the composer's best, whether the insistently obsessive motif on Lucretia's name, the hair-raising runs of the Ride to Rome (tailor-made for Pears' ability to ride straight through the passagio in the voice), the ravishing harmonies as the women fold linen or the heart-break of Lucretia's confession.

The performance on these discs, conducted by the composer, were linked to a touring English Opera Group production and so have a real feeling of the theatre about them. The singers show just how strong the `Aldeburgh Rep' was at that time. Janet Baker is unbeatable as the heroine - at least on a par with the role's creator, Kathleen Ferrier, and often better. Benjamin Luxon is all power and lust: Bryan Drake has just the right edge to his voice for the political mob-stirrer, Junius: John Shirley-Quirk saves Collatinus from being the rather pale goody-goody he can often seem by concentrating on the text as well as his customary beauty of tone. The two Greek-style Choruses have to handle some of the more awkward passages of the libretto. As I've said, the Male Chorus's part is actually designed for Pears' voice and he sings it with his familiar inimitable style, if without quite the freshness he brought to the various performances now available from the time of the opera's premiere. Heather Harper doesn't quite efface memories of Joan Cross, but she is as hauntingly beautiful as ever in Britten's music. And Britten as conductor is naturally and as always a supreme communicator of his own intentions. He elicits some wonderful playing from his small ECO group and paces the piece, dramatically as well as musically, just right.

This is as near a definitive performance of the work as you'll find. Some of the earlier recordings, as I've said, are worth exploring, but are much more dated in sound terms. Hickox's later CDs have a fine Lucretia in Jean Rigby and an interesting alternative to Pears in Nigel Robson's Chorus, but don't quite hit the spot as this performance does. And on these discs you also get Janet Baker's riveting performance of Phaedra, a cantata from late in the composer's career when he was already seriously ill and which is effectively a distilled and concentrated opera in its own right.

Average customer rating:

Britten: The Rescue of Penelope; Phaedra Baker , Hagley , Wyn-Rogers , Ainsley , Dazeley , Nagano , and Halle Orchestra Manufacturer: Elatus ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Classical | Styles | Music ASIN: B00006L9RW Release Date: 2006-05-17

Tracks:

1. The Rescue Of Penelope - Part One
2. The Rescue Of Penelope - Part Two
3. Phaedra

Jazz Music:

1. Puro Escandalo
2. Rabo de Nube
3. Recordando el Rancho
4. Secretos Nortenos
5. Sigue Sonando el Rio Grande
6. Sin Censura
7. Sinfónico
8. Solos De Orquesta [Import]
9. Son of a Dunigan
10. Su Apollo Sound V.5 [Import]

Jazz Music

jazz music