London Sinfonietta

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
You can just about be guaranteed that anything conductor Oliver Knussen raises his baton over is going to be some of the best postmodernism at large in the music world today. This holds true for this disc of two broadly structured works by Finnish composer Magnus Lindberg. Aura (1993-94) is (a) a tone poem, or (b) a symphony, or (c) a concerto for orchestra. You pick. Whatever it is, it's a spectacular (and spectacularly cogent) display of sound-masses and harmonic clusters that incorporate every instrument in the orchestra, all of which is held together by steady tempos and a (paradoxically) even temperament. Engines (1996) is a more rigorous statement in clashing harmonics and adroit use of counterpoint. It's also for a chamber-sized orchestra, but you'd never know it. That said, this really is music only for the brave. If you're one of those, this, then, is for you. --Paul Cook

Magnus Lindberg: Aura - In Memoriam Witold Lutoslawski (1993-94) / Engine (1996) - Oliver Knussen / London Sinfonietta, Music, Magnus Lindberg, Oliver Knussen, London Sinfonietta, Classical, Classical Composers, Classical Music, Orchestral, Orchestral & Symphonic, Orchestral Music

Average customer rating:

Mixed success, although fine sounding

One great piece, one unsuccessful piece from a fine composer

one superb work, one not superb

Modern "Metropolis"

Oh dear Mr Magnus, what have you done?

Magnus Lindberg: Aura - In Memoriam Witold Lutoslawski (1993-94) / Engine (1996) - Oliver Knussen / London Sinfonietta
Magnus Lindberg , Oliver Knussen , and London Sinfonietta
Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Classical | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B00004TTIG
Release Date: 2000-08-08

Tracks:

Aura: 1st Movement
Aura: 2nd Movement
Aura: 3rd Movement
Aura: 4th Movement
Engine

Amazon.com

You can just about be guaranteed that anything conductor Oliver Knussen raises his baton over is going to be some of the best postmodernism at large in the music world today. This holds true for this disc of two broadly structured works by Finnish composer Magnus Lindberg. Aura (1993-94) is (a) a tone poem, or (b) a symphony, or (c) a concerto for orchestra. You pick. Whatever it is, it's a spectacular (and spectacularly cogent) display of sound-masses and harmonic clusters that incorporate every instrument in the orchestra, all of which is held together by steady tempos and a (paradoxically) even temperament. Engines (1996) is a more rigorous statement in clashing harmonics and adroit use of counterpoint. It's also for a chamber-sized orchestra, but you'd never know it. That said, this really is music only for the brave. If you're one of those, this, then, is for you. --Paul Cook

Customer Reviews:

Mixed success, although fine sounding.......2006-04-15

I wanted to hear Aura for a long time as it has been described as Lindberg?s main work written in 90-ies of 20th century. It is a large scale composition, lasting over 40 minutes. Yet I get the feeling Lindberg did not have the form under control. The composition turns into a long mixture of episodes with occasional climaxes and relaxations, which seem to repeat forever. What I like is the conclusion which has really beautiful chords by strings. Bravo, Magnus! But the entire work is too long with such form.
The Engine is more powerful work but it eventually shows the same problem as Aura. Magnus will have to pay more attention to the formal structure as his later works suffer from repeating themselves.

One great piece, one unsuccessful piece from a fine composer.......2004-11-01

This disc in Deutsche Grammaphon's "20/21" line of contemporary music presents two pieces by Finnish composer Magnus Lindberg performed by the BBC Symphony Orchestra ("Aura") and the London Sinfonietta ("Engine") conducted by Oliver Knussen. While Magnus Lindberg is one of my favourite composers, I feel that this disc does not represent his best recent work.

Lindberg's oeuvre can be split into two periods. That of his youth was squarely within the avant-garde and culminated in 1985's "Kraft", a massive work (the score is nearly a meter tall) of titanic forces using not only traditional instrumentation, but also lots of clinking and clanking and spoken word. The result, though conceptually interesting, shows music out of control where its disparate parts are not closely intergrated. After a hiatus of over three years, Lindberg returned with his trilogy "Kinetics"-"Marea"-"Joy", where his new compositional technique had him building giant networks of harmonies but keeping them all meticulously managed and interrelated. This is the style he has continued with to this day, and in it he has created some true masterpieces of modern-classical music, such as "Feria", "Cantigas", and his "Cello Concerto". The two pieces on this disc are from this second period.

The four-movement "Aura", written in 1993-94 and dedicated to the memory of Witold Lutoslawski (whose use of harmony Lindberg learned and even surpassed), is his longest work, and though nearly anyone would think it a symphony, Lindberg has not called it so. The work has many interesting moments, and had it been a little shorter this could have been one of Lindberg's best works. Unfortunately, it does seem to repeat the mistake of "Kraft" in that the instrumental forces fly out of Lindberg's control. Some sections maintain closely-knit forms, but far too much of the work seems uncertain and meandering. In 2003 Lindberg's "Concerto for Orchestra" appeared, which succeeds with the aim of exploring the orchestra in its entirety, but "Aura" fell short of the mark.

"Engine" is more successful and conceptually quite fascinating. A study in the juxtaposition of contrapunctual elements, it was realised with the help of computer software, which Lindberg has found most helpful for the complicated systems of his compositions. It also shows some impressive games with rhythm. This is the piece I keep coming back to this disc for.

The BBC Symphony Orchestra and London Sinfonietta give satisfactory performances. I particularly like the comfort the Sinfonietta shows with "Engine". Oliver Knussen's conducting seems dependable, but I would have liked to hear how Lindberg's old school chum and oft conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen would have handled the two pieces. The liner notes are also quite informative about Lindberg's work and his principles. I am disappointed, however, that DG did not include another work to fill this 51-minute disc. The majority of Lindberg's works could have easily fit in the remaining space.

If you have not heard Lindberg's work before, I'd recommend staring with the MUSIC OF MAGNUS LINDBERG disc on Sony, though "Feria"-"Corrente II"-"Arena" on Ondine is also a good choice. While "Aura" is one of his larger works, I don't think it works too well, and "Engine" isn't enough on its own to introduce one to this fine composer's work.

one superb work, one not superb.......2003-07-06

My rating for this disc is simply the average of the two pieces -- 5 stars for "Aura," 3 stars for "Engine." "Aura" is magnificent, the composition that marked the fruition of Lindberg's mature style. Interesting that he shies away from calling it a symphony, given that it has the standard four movements -- since "Aura," Lindberg's orchestral compositions have been one movement works. "Engine" I find much less successful, a piece utilizing a computer program to generate complex counterpoint.

"Aura," composed in 1993-4, like most of Lindberg's works since then, is in a "neo-romantic" style, anchored in a contemporary sensibility but reaching back for tonality and complex harmonic development, influenced by Lutoslawski among others. ("Aura" is dedicated to Lutoslawski, and Lindberg's friend the conductor Salonen has recorded performances of the L.A. Philharmonic playing Lutoslawki's Symphonies 2, 3 and 4.) Lindberg has developed his challenging yet accessible approach even further on the recent THE MUSIC OF MAGNUS LINDBERG disc on Sony, which I recommend as the best of Lindberg now available (see my review). There are also two discs on the Finnish Ondine label, each featuring three of Lindberg's orchestral compositions since his stylistic turn in the late 1980s.

Modern "Metropolis".......2002-06-14

My line coming from that this music reminds me of a postmodern/modern version that might had suit Fritz Langs film "Metropolis" even if this is NOT "motor music" or minimalism that you find in Philip Glass music.

Anyway... this is Lindbergs best music so far (and I include his new disc at Sony -june 2002- in that opinion) and it is an importent modern work that has a line, something to say and that is not always you could find that in Lindbergs works but on this Lindberg and conductor Knussen succeeds delivering.

A must have for people intrested in modern classical music.

Oh dear Mr Magnus, what have you done?.......2001-11-16

Lindberg reackons the orchestra is his favourite 'instrument', well, I think he should take up the banjo or something because Aura is a real tedious piece of work. It's too long, too boring and too bland really. Engine is a bit better as there are not as many instruments but it still doesnt capture some of the brilliance of his early stuff. What's more the CD is only about 51mins long, although, seeing the two pieces arent that good I guess that is a blessing?!? Good on DG and Oly Knussen for releasing it, better than nothing I suppose, but its not the best.

If your interested in Lindberg, and I suppose you should be, then check out the the 2CD set, Meet the Composer, on Finlandia records (Sadly not listed on Amazon.com for some reaon, try .de or .fr or .co.uk). Included are his earlier and better orchestral works (including 'Kraft') as well as some excellent chamber works, for intance, '...de Tartuffe, je crois' for piano quintet which mixes episodes of Ferneyhough-like intensity with quotations from Rameau and Lully, or 'Action-Situation-Signification' for ensemble which is a really interesting and a somewhat radical (certainly compared to Aura) 'texture' piece.
What's more you get 2CDs for the price of one and each are about 75 minutes long, you work it out...

Early on he formed some group with Salonen and Saariaho among others whose name translated as "ears open". Mr Lindberg now seems to have his ears closed. Either that or his brain isnt working properly. I should add I guess that many others have raved about this CD so you may like it, I just think you're better off all round going for the Finlandia set. It's up to you.

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