Honegger: Symphony No. 3 ("Liturgique"), etc.

Editorial Reviews
Album Description
In an age of remarkable individuals, Joseph Boulogne, Chevalier de Saints-Georges, son of a French colonial planter and a beautiful Senegalese slave, occupied a unique position as athlete, swordsman, military commander, huntsman, violin virtuoso and conductor. Though written for his own use, the violin concertos are more than vehicles for mere virtuosic display. Lyrical, expressive slow movements are flanked by often highly original outer movements, quite unlike anything written by Viennese composers such as Haydn, Hofmann and Dittersdorf. Had Mozart seen Saint-Georges play the brilliant Concerto No. 10 while he was in Paris in 1778, he would have heard many things in it to admire.

Tracks:

Antiphon: Ecce Annuntio Vobis - Dominique Vellard
Symphony No. 5: Adagietto - Jukka-Pekka Saraste
Gymnopedie No. 1 - Paul Tortelier
Pavane - Paul Tortelier
The Planets: Venus - Sir Charles Mackerras
Old And Lost Rivers - Christoph Eschenbach
Prld To The Afternoon Of A Faun - Dmitri Kitaenko
Summer Pastorale - Jesus Lopez-Cobos
Masques Et Bergamasques: Pastorale - Jean-Bernard Pommier
Summa - Bournemouth Sinfonietta
Pictures At An Exhibition: The Old Castle - Sir Charles Mackerras
The Wounded Heart - Jonathan Rees
Ser in e: Larghetto - Andrew Litton

Tracks:

Apollon Musagete: The Birth Of Apollo - Jukka-Pekka Saraste
Adagio for Strings - City Of London Sinfonia
The Swan Of Tuonela - Paavo Jarvi
Enigma Vars: Nimrod - RPO/Andrew Litton
Petite Ste: En Bateau (Orch. Busser) - Jean-Bernard Pommier
Holberg Ste: Air - Jonathan Rees
Fantasia On 'Greensleeves' - Christopher Warren-Green
Gymnopedie No. 3 - Paul Tortelier
Pavane Pour Une Infante Defunte - Jukka-Pekka Saraste
The Last Spring - Jonathan Rees
Thais: Meditation (From Thais) - Paul Tortelier
Vocalise - Andrew Litton
Mother Goose: The Fairy Garden - Dmitri Kitaenko
Antiphon: Ecce Annuntio Vobis - Dominique Vellard

Customer Reviews:

If stranded on an island and had one disc..........2006-01-23

I'd be tempted to make this the one, and I own over 2,000. I agree with what has been said above, but have a few thoughts of my own. I live near a major city with a known orchestra. Why are classical audienced declining? Maybe they're overplaying hackneyed works, and not playing some neglected masterpieces. In this double album there are some well known works, but some exquisite finds, like Picker's Old and Lost Rivers, Honegger's Pastorale, Arvo Part's Summa (!!!). Most highly recommended, with a good bottle of red wine.

Truly inspired collection.......2004-12-07

I came upon this compilation while researching a somewhat obscure piece called "Summer Pastorale", which is contained in the collection. One look at the play list and I was sold - here were most of my favorite tone poems, adagios, and assorted short works, all on one CD (OK, two CD's...)

Another gem here that I had never heard before is Pick's "Old and Lost Rivers". Ravel's final movement from Mother Goose is one of his best orchestrations and at the top of my 'A' list.

About the only pieces I missed here were Debussy's Engulfed Cathedral and Respighi's fourth church window, St. Gregory the Great. Perhaps they would be a bit too dramatic for this collection, though.

The only shortcoming of this collection is the lack of liner notes, but this is a minor issue. The music is superb.

Encore! Encore!.......2004-06-17

Like a few other reviewers here, I purchased this disc for Tobias Picker's "Old and Lost Rivers." But from the Gregorian chants that open this two-CD set to the closing strains of Ravel's "Mother Goose: The Fairy Garden," I was absolutely captivated by the beauty and cohesiveness of this compilation. Producer Robert Laporta has created a disc that passes muster with neophytes and long time classical music lovers alike. I humbly suggest -- make that BEG -- that Virgin Classics turn "Classical Dreams" into a series. I would love to hear a second volume featuring such favorites as the BBC Symphony Orchestra's interpretation of Delius' "On Hearing the 1st Cuckoo In Spring," the Royal Philharmonic's version of Vaughan Williams' "Fantastia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis" and the London Symphony's recording of Vaughan Williams' "Symphony No. 3 Pastoral" (Andre Previn conducting both Vaughan Williams' selections). By far, this is the finest classical collection I have yet heard. Encore!

Encore! Encore!.......2004-06-17

Like a few other reviewers here, I purchased this disc for Tobias Picker's miraculous (and criminally underrated) "Old and Lost Rivers." But from the Gregorian chants that open this two-CD set to the closing strains of Ravel's "Mother Goose: The Fairy Garden," I was absolutely captivated by the beauty and cohesiveness of this compilation. Producer Robert Laporta has created a disc both neophytes and long time classical music lovers can approve of. I humbly suggest that Virgin Classics turn Classical Dreams into a series. I would love to hear a second volume featuring such favorites as the BBC Symphony Orchestra's interpretation of Delius' "On Hearing the 1st Cuckoo In Spring," the Royal Philharmonic's version of Vaughan Williams' "Fantastia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis" and the London Symphony's recording of Vaughan Williams' "Symphony No. 3 Pastoral" (Andre Previn conducting both Vaughan Williams' selections). By far, this is the finest classical compilation I have yet heard. Encore!

Surprised and ... inspired.......2002-05-10

What a pleasant surprise this double CD turned out to be. I bought it used just for Picker's gorgeous and poetic "Old and Lost Rivers" but fell in love with the whole thing. I'm not usully one for "Best Of ---" or themed classical collections, but this one's in a class by itself. The selections are unusual and achingly lovely in themselves and as a whole. This is my new favorite disk. It's a relaxation or concentration tool... hell, it's a companion - it goes wherever my laptop and headphones go. You get over two hours of gorgeous and lyrical - never mushy, sentimental or tired - classical music, the perfect backdrop for everything from dinner dates to writing code. This CD has added sustained moments of beauty and poise to a busy life - which is more than I could have asked for!

Honegger: Symphonies #1-5, Pacific 231; Michel Plasson; Orchestre du Capitole du Toulouse

Average customer rating:

This Honegger's Not Half-Bad

Honegger: Symphonies #1-5, Pacific 231; Michel Plasson; Orchestre du Capitole du Toulouse
Arthur Honegger , Michel Plasson , and Orchestre du Capitole du Toulouse
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B0000CE7FR
Release Date: 2004-06-01

Tracks:

I: Allegro Marcato
II: Adagio
III: Presto
I: Molto Moderato - Allegro - Yan-Pascal Tortelier
II: Adagio Mesto - Yan-Pascal Tortelier
III: Vivace Ma Non Troppo - Presto - Yan-Pascal Tortelier
I: 'Dies Irae': Allegro Marcato - Calvin Sieb
II: 'De Profundis Clamavi': Adagio - Calvin Sieb
III: 'Dona Nobis Pacem': Andante - Calvin Sieb

Tracks:

I: Lento E Misterioso - Allegro - Lento - Allegro Molto Tranquillo
II: Larghetto
III: Allegro - Adagio - Allegro
I: Grave
II: Allegretto - Adagio - Allegretto
III: Allegro Marcato
Pacific 231 (Mouvement Symphonique No.1)

Customer Reviews:

This Honegger's Not Half-Bad.......2005-11-12

EMI has had their share of questionable reissues lately, but the label's new "Gemini" series is certainly something to get excited about. These two-disc titles feature first rate performances at a true budget price, even less expensive than the company's own "Double Forte" line. As I did not have a complete Honegger cycle in my collection, I decided to get this set recently featuring the five Symphonies and Pacific 231 (Mouvement Symphonique No. 1). These recordings by Michel Plasson and the Orchestre du Capitole de Toulouse from the late 1970s are enjoyable, if not stellar. I certainly don't prefer the accounts featured here to those I have by Karajan (Syms 2 & 3), Munch (Syms 2 & 5 with Boston and Sym 2 with Paris) and Scherchen (Pacific 231), but I'm still glad to have purchased it. At this low price, what's not to like?

Honegger: Pacific 231, mouvement symphonique No1; Symphony No3

Average customer rating:

Honegger: Pacific 231, mouvement symphonique No1; Symphony No3

Manufacturer: EMI Records [All429]
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00000DNTD
Release Date: 1994-07-19

Tracks:

Sym No.2: I. Molto Moderato - Allegro
Sym No.2: II. Adagio Mesto
Sym No.2: III. Vivace Non Troppo - Presto
Sym No.3 'Liturgique': I. Dies Irae: Allegro Marcato
Sym No.3 'Liturgique': II. De Profundis Clamavi: Adagio
Sym No.3 'Liturgique': III. Dona Nobis Pacem: Andante - Adagio
Pacific 231: Movt Sym No.1

Honegger: Symphony No. 2 for String Orchestra and Trumpet; Symphony No. 3 "Liturgique" / Stravinsky: Concerto in D for String Orchestra

Average customer rating:

One of the finest symphonic recordings...period.
Honegger Remembered, Another Famous Karajan Classic
Gorgeous reflection on war during war
Neglected Masterpieces, A Very Special Recording
Beautiful Honegger

Honegger: Symphony No. 2 for String Orchestra and Trumpet; Symphony No. 3 "Liturgique" / Stravinsky: Concerto in D for String Orchestra

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

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Deutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music
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Elgar: Cello Concerto; Sea Pictures; Cockaigne Overture

ASIN: B000001GQN
Release Date: 1996-04-09

Tracks:

Symphonie No. 2 fur Streichorchester und Trompete: 1. Molto Moderato - Allegro
Symphonie No. 2 fur Streichorchester und Trompete: 2. Adagio mesto
Symphonie No. 2 fur Streichorchester und Trompete: 3. Vivace, non troppo - Presto
Symphonie No. 3 (Liturgique): 1. (Dies irae). Allegro marcato
Symphonie No. 3 (Liturgique): 2. (De profundis clamavi). Adagio
Symphonie No. 3 (Liturgique): 3. (Dona nobis pacem). Andante
Concenrto In D fur Streichorchester: Vivace
Concenrto In D fur Streichorchester: Arioso. Andantino
Concenrto In D fur Streichorchester: Rondo. Allegro

Amazon.com

Herbert von Karajan liked to think of himself as the great conductor of the German classical repertoire: Mozart, Beethoven, and Brahms. Perhaps out of insecurity, he recorded and recorded that music incessantly--there are four complete Beethoven symphony cycles, for instance. But he really was at his best in other things, and everyone agrees that these performances of Honegger symphonies are among his finest recordings. Part of their allure lies simply in the quality of the playing, for no one could deny that he cultivated a technical standard with the Berlin Philharmonic that was second to none. But he also seems to respond to the music's savagery, its melancholy, and ultimate message of hope. In short, the music really turned him on, and it'll do the same for you. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

One of the finest symphonic recordings...period........2006-11-26

The reviews are correct; some of Karajan's finest work is on this disc. Also, some of the best compositions of the 20th century are here. But well above that, this CD contains something otherworldly. It's like the BPO and Karajan were possessed, or were in some kind of meditation, following a powerful spirit in this music that just sweeps everyone up in it. Newer and digital recordings can sound quite good, but they all adhere strictly to technical aspects in the music, especially tempo and dynamics, where as this disc locks in to something utterly spiritual. Big talk, I realize, but every time I hear this CD I am floored. In comparison to this, other Honegger symphony interpreters are just playing notes on a page.

Honegger Remembered, Another Famous Karajan Classic.......2006-09-09

If the liner notes by Karl Schumann are to be believed, these Arthur Honegger Symphonies were part of the standard orchestral repertoire at the time Karajan recorded his classic accounts. I wasn't alive in the late 60's or early 70's, so I can't confirm if Honegger had a more secure place in the repertoire than he has now. Going to a concert hall to hear a performance of a Honegger symphony by a major orchestra is very rare nowadays. Luckily Herbert von Karajan recorded these instant classics in late 1969.

To call the strings impeccable in Symphony 2, ( composed 1941 ), is an understatement, this is the Berlin Philharmonic we're talking about, under Karajan they were by far the finest strings in the world. Hell, they were the best orchestra in the world, period.

Symphony 3, "Liturgique", ( composed 1945-46 ), receives a one of a kind, supreme reading as well. It is nigh-definitive, the dies irae passionate, the adagio suitably expansive and moving, the final dona nobis pacem stunning in it's virtuosity. Just like the second symphony this music was inspired by World War II and there's plenty of tragic emotion in the work.

The only thing on this disc that might be deemed not as perfect is the short Stravinsky work, Concerto for String Orchestra. The Berlin strings are very cultured and smooth here and perhaps this elegant sophistication is not suitable to the Stravinsky style as a more abrasive approach would be. You'll have to be the judge, I found it quite wonderful myself, but then again, you're not buying this for the Stravinsky.

It you want the two best Honegger symphonies, played by the finest orchestra in the world, conducted by perhaps the greatest podium figure of the 20th-century, then this is your ticket. The sound as remastered by DG is very fine. A collector's item in every sense.

Gorgeous reflection on war during war.......2006-08-09

Symphony #2 is just strings singing questionably toward the beginning or middle of WW2 joined at the last part of the last movement by a single trumpet playing a German choral. Very strange. The trumpet is not the best tone, and because the violins double it, it sounds washed out. Nevertheless, a revealing piece.

Symphony #3 is even better. Three movements named after parts of the requiem. It comes at the end of the war with a yearning for peace while still immersed in miliarism--marches interspersed with plaintive prayers. Gorgeous sound.

Neglected Masterpieces, A Very Special Recording.......2006-01-05

In his book THE SYMPHONY, Michael Steinberg says something to the effect that if you mention the name "Arthur Honegger" to most music lovers you will probably get "Hmm...Didn't he write the piece about the locomotive?". (Indeed, Honegger did write PACIFIC 231, a sonic impression of a steam locomotive and hardly one of his deepest pieces.) Sadly, this composer's notoriety today is wildly out of proportion with his worth and importance. I discovered Honegger largely through my interest in French music and LES SIX (the French "Group of Six"), of which Honegger was a part. Upon hearing the powerful LITURGIQUE symphony for the first time, I was amazed. Everything about the music - its polyphonic depth, its architecture, the incandescence of the instrumental colors, the amplitude and expressiveness of the melodic line - proclaimed its composer one of the neglected geniuses of 20th-century music. Honegger's music synthesizes the shaded delicacy of Debussy, the kinetic energy and dissonance of Stravinsky, and the polyphonic chorale tradition deriving from Bach into a dense, rich musical language of solidity, integrity, and eloquence. I vastly prefer Honegger to Bartok or Shostakovich (two composers that another reviewer mentioned as possible preambles to these symphonies), and I find it a scandal that he is not better known. It is fortunate that an important conductor such as Karajan chose to record these works. The church acoustic lends a spacious airiness to the recording, and the playing is of undeniable commitment, fullness, passionate virtuosity, and expressive depth. Karajan's readings of the magnificent adagio and the final andante of the LITURGIQUE stretch out their astonishing beauty. Symphony #2 for strings, which was new to me upon hearing this recording, is a moody, haunting work and every bit as fine as Symphony #3. No one should call himself well-rounded in 20th-century music without knowing Arthur Honegger's rich blend of French sensibility and German self-expression, and lovers of the symphony would be denying themselves much in ignoring these important contributions.

As excellent a work as it is, the Concerto in D by Stravinsky feels like an an unwelcome intrusion. In my opinion, these powerful Honegger symphonies need no makeweight!

Beautiful Honegger .......2005-08-09

I have this fabulous 3rd symphony (too bad the 5th ("Di Tre Re") wasn't also included in this set) with Baudo & the Czech Phil., and I prefer it a bit to this one (of course you can't get the Baudo anymore, probably). I agree with the many criticisms of von K. that he approaches much of his music in too refinedly a manner. Cf. his Sibelius symphonies, still available on DG CD. But, still, a beautiful performance of an outstanding symphony. Honegger was by far the most important of "Les Six" and I agree with the reviewer above who can't explain his limited popularity.

Honegger: Symphony No3; Milhaud: Suite provençale for orchestra Op152

Average customer rating:

Honegger: Symphony No3; Milhaud: Suite provençale for orchestra Op152

Manufacturer: Citadel
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B00004UAV8
Release Date: 2000-07-25

Average customer rating:

Top notch mostly 1950s mono recordings in excellent sound
A great conductor's legacy of great performances of music of a wide variety of composers.
Brilliant "Life in Music" Rescued from the Vaults

Ferenc Fricsay: A Life in Music

Manufacturer: Umvd Labels
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Dances | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B00009LW2Z
Release Date: 2003-08-12

Customer Reviews:

Top notch mostly 1950s mono recordings in excellent sound.......2005-11-10

"Ferenc Fricsay: A Life in Music" consists mostly of top notch 1950s mono recordings in excellent sound, from DG's back catalog. I knew of Ferenc Fricsay (1914-1963) mostly from his recording of Bartok's Piano Concertos 1,2,and 3 with pianist Geza Anda. Fricsay also recorded Mozart's operas "Don Giovanni" and "Die Zauberflote", both with Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau in the cast for DG; also Beethoven's 9th Symphony; Bartok's "Concerto for Orchestra", and "Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta", all for DG. Fricsay did not live a long time, dying at age 48 from cancer, but he made alot of recordings from 1949 until his death in 1963, many of them sadly hidden in DG's vaults for decades.

DG has given the public a great release with this 9 disc set of Fricsay recordings, mostly in mono, but excellent sound. Do not be afraid of the mono sound: it is very clear and balanced, in many cases better than many stereo and even digital recordings made more recently. Included are Beethoven's Symphony 1; Mendelssohn's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" with the vocal duets included; Prokofiev's "Classical" Symphony; Franck's Symphonic variations and Rachmaninoff Paganini Variations with Swiss pianist Margrit Weber; Haydn's "The Seasons" (complete, live performance with Maria Stader, Ernst Haeflinger, and Joseph Greindl); works of Falla, Francaix, Hindemith, Frank Martin, Hartmann, and others. There is a wide variety of music and you will not be disappointed.

Most of these recordings are with the RIAS Symphony Orchestra of Berlin, which Fricsay conducted for the majority of his conducting career. The RIAS orchestra was "Radio in the American sector" of Berlin, a part of West Berlin during the 1940s, 50s, and 60s. Some tracks are with the Berlin Philharmonic, others with the Berlin Radio Orchestra. In all cases, the orchestras play very well, responding with great precision to every nuance of Fricsay's direction.

I believe Fricsay would have wider recognition had he lived longer. He was roughly a contemporary of Karajan, Solti, Giulini, and Bernstein, and is sadly underrated today. Perhaps this collection will help to boost his reputation with a new generation of music lovers born after his time. Highly recommended.

A great conductor's legacy of great performances of music of a wide variety of composers........2005-09-18

Some two years after Mr. Richman posted his review, I wish only to support his high rating of these masterful performances by one of the greatest conductors of the mid-twentieth century. These recordings are gifts of grace. The fact that this collection remains available is little short of a miracle. And in addition thre is a Fricsay set in the series of "Great Conductors of the 20th Century" also still available. Many other recordings of performances under the baton of Ferenc Fricsay are to be found if one searches under his name on Amazon. His recordings of Verdi's Requiem and Beethoven's Ninth Symphony on DG remain among the greatest ever made of either of these two eternal masterpieces.

Try the $12.00 2CD "great Conductors" set first. At that price you can't lose. I predict that having heard those recordings you will quickly seek out and purchase "Ferenc Fricsay, A Life in Music." Too expensive? Not at all. It's worth every penny. It's easily worth several months of anyone's budget for buying CDs. And the recorded interview with Fricsay, already ill and seemingly knowing his death is approaching, will inspire you even as it breaks your heart. His death as he approached his 40th birthday was an incalculable loss to the Western classical tradition. Yet we do have the recordings -- go and listen to them!

Brilliant "Life in Music" Rescued from the Vaults.......2003-08-13

Now that Deutsche Grammophon is part of Universal, we have seen some interesting things happen, and not all of them bad. What I'm referring to in this case is the new "Original Masters" Limited Edition Box Set series. Finally, the classical music world has taken a page out of the jazz reissue handbook -- put out a quality product featuring rare recordings but make its availability limited, and people will snatch it up.

Now in its second round of the "Original Masters" box sets, DG has chosen to follow-up on the success of the "Great Conductors of the Century" series. They have just released two glorious 9-disc collections of the performances of conductors Ferenc Fricsay and Igor Markevitch, the vast majority of which have been previously unavailable on CD.

This particular set, "A Life in Music," showcases some of the numerous recordings made by the great conductor Ferenc Fricsay for Deutsche Grammophon, many of which have been rare (and expensive) collector's items for years. As the track information is non-existent above, I will try to be of assistance.

The first disc contains Beethoven's 1st Symphony (1953) and the Overture and Incidental Music to Mendelssohn's A Midsummer Night's Dream (1950) both with the Berlin Philharmonic (BP), and Prokofiev's 1st Symphony with the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra (BRSO) from 1954.

Disc two features Mahler's Ruckert-Lieder with Maureen Forrester (BRSO, 1958), and Tchaikovsky's 6th Symphony (BRSO, 1959).

Discs three begins with Respighi's orchestration of Rossini's La Boutique Fantasque (BRSO, 1955) and ends with Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade (BRSO, 1956).

Disc four features the great Waltzes, Polkas, Overtures and Marches of the Strauss Family (all with BRSO from 1949-52). Included here are The Blue Danube, Vienna Blood, Musical Joke, Pizzicato-Polka, Die Fledermaus, The Gypsy Baron, Voices of Spring, Roses from the South, Morning Papers, Annen-Polka, Chit-Chat Polka, and the Radzetky March.

Disc five focuses on Fricsay as an accompanist with pianist Margrit Weber (and the BRSO). Together they tackle Falla's Nights in the Garden of Spain (1957), Francaix's (1956) and Honegger's (1955) Concertos for Piano, Franck's Symphonic Variations (1957) and Rachmaninov's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini (1960).

Disc six shines the spotlight on 20th Century composers. Here we get Von Einem's Zwischenspiel Interlude (1949), Hindemith's Symphonic Dances (1950), Hartmann's 6th Symphony (1955), and Martin's Petite Symphonie Concertante (1950), with Gerty Herzog on piano, Sylvia Kidd on harpsichord and Irmgard Helmis on harp.

On discs seven and eight, Fricsay performs a memorable account of Haydn's The Seasons. This is a live recording with the Berlin RSO from 1961 featuring soprano Maria Stader, tenor Ernst Haefliger, bass Josef Greindl and the St. Hedwigs Cathedral Choir, Berlin.

The final disc, number nine, wraps things up with "Ferenc Fricsay: A Life Retold," a 57-miunte interview complete with excerpts of memorable performances.

Despite the fact that most of these recordings are in mono (only the selections on disc two, and the Paganini Rhapsody are in stereo), the first rate performances more than compensate for any audio shortcomings. Well, I guess the consolidation of the music industry isn't so bad after all, as long as I can look forward to more reissues like Ferenc Fricsay: A Life in Music.

Munch Conducts Saint-Saens, Franck, Indy, Honegger, Roussel, Ibert

Average customer rating:

Munch Conducts Saint-Saens, Franck, Indy, Honegger, Roussel, Ibert

Manufacturer: Bmg Int'l
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Release Date: 2002-12-31

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Album Details

Artist & Repertoires Series.

Average customer rating:

Classical Chillout

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Album Details

Timeless Music for Relaxation. Over Three Hours of the Most Soothing Music Ever Written.

Average customer rating:

Powerful Classical

Classical Blast

Manufacturer: Denon Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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25 Thunderous Classics

ASIN: B00018U8VC
Release Date: 2004-01-27

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Sehr Breit
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Finale
IV. March To The Scaffold
Festival In Baghdad/The Sea/The Ship Goes To Pieces On A Rock Surmounted By A Bronze Warrior (Shipwreck)/Conclusion
A Night On Bald Mountain
IV. Ode To Joy

Tracks:

Toreador March
Finale
Prelude
Mars, Bringer Of War
Intrada
Pacific 231
Montagues And Capulets
Finale
Finale
Great Gates Of Kiev

Customer Reviews:

Powerful Classical.......2006-06-08

This is a collectional of Powerful, Brassy, Percussive Classics. This collection is similar to Heavy Classix and Classical Thunder. The recordings are good and the performances wonderful. The liner notes however are practically non-existent. I have no idea who these performances are done by but they have a lot of bravura. This collection is good for those listeners who like their classical music loud!

Honneger: Symphony No. 5; Symphony No. 3; Pacific 231

Average customer rating:

Shamefully Neglected 20th-Century Master
"Pacific 231" never sounded so good!

Honneger: Symphony No. 5; Symphony No. 3; Pacific 231

Manufacturer: Chandos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Honegger: Symphony No. 4; Pastoral d'été; Prélude, Arioso et Fughette; Concertino
Bruckner: The Complete Symphonies

ASIN: B000000AS2
Release Date: 1994-07-26

Tracks:

Symphony No. 5 'Di tre re': I Grave
Symphony No. 5 'Di tre re': II Allegretto - Adagio - Allegretto - Adagio - Allegretto
Symphony No. 5 'Di tre re': III Allegro marcato
Symphony No. 3 'Liturgique': I Dies Irae. Allegro marcato
Symphony No. 3 'Liturgique': II De profundis clamavi. Adagio
Symphony No. 3 'Liturgique': III Dona nobis pacem. Andante
Pacific 231: Modere - Rythmique

Amazon.com

Arthur Honegger (1882-1955) was a member of the famous group of French composers-- influenced by Eric Satie's theories--called Les Six. Honegger's music, however, never followed any school or program. His Symphony 5, Di Tre Re, (1950) is a thoroughly modern update to the French symphony. His music is post-romantic with occasional elements of post-modernism thrown in. He wasn't afraid of the occasional modal clash. His Symphony 3 Liturgique (1946) is based on the Catholic liturgy, but contains many more dynamic elements, hardly liturgical at all. Pacific 231 describes a powerful train locomotive. The Chandos sound is absolutely spectacular. Recommended without hesitation. --Paul Cook

Customer Reviews:

Shamefully Neglected 20th-Century Master.......2005-09-12

I dare anyone to listen to the expansive, hauntingly beautiful slow movement of Arthur Honegger's Symphony #3 (subtitled "Liturgique") and not feel that we are dealing with one of the unjustly neglected composers of the last century. Although often grouped with LES SIX (the iconoclastic group of composers in 1920's Paris responsible for breathing a lot of fresh air into music), Honegger had little in common with them. By his own admission he had "no taste for the fairground [or] the music hall", and preferred to write serious-minded orchestral music, chamber music, and oratorios.

Like its predecessor the Symphony #2 for strings and trumpet, the Symphony #3 has strong extra-musical associations, having been composed at the end of World War II when Honegger was absorbed in pessimistic thoughts about humanity's self-destructive tendencies. Each movement bears a Latin inscription from Catholic liturgy. The first movement, "Dies Irae", is appropriately explosive and harsh, full of striking sonorities and Stravinksy-like (eg. SYMPHONY IN 3 MOVEMENTS) in its block-like structures. In the stunning second movement, "De profundis clamavi", the lyric floodgates open as Honegger spins out an inexorable thread of melody through various harmonic changes like changing clouds. The final movement, "Dona nobis pacem", brings back the barbarism of the first (reflecting "the rise of collective stupidity") before dissolving into a final prayer-like Adagio in which the flute, representing the "dove of peace", hovers serenely above the orchestra.

The more slight Symphony #5 ("Di tre re") pales a bit incomparison with #3, though it offers some striking block-like polyharmonies and kinetic energy.

PACIFIC 231, a short tone poem for orchestra written in 1923, shows the younger, brash Honegger. This piece, with its startlingly realistic depictions of a steam locomotive, created a sensation and became emblematic of the Age of Steel.

Of the "French Six", only Francis Poulenc - once the clown of the group and later masterful composer of sacred music and songs - has survived in the repertory. Many listeners will see why I feel that Honegger needs a revival and deserves a more prominent place in the early modern pantheon. His music combines French sensibility with Germanic feel for "message" and personal expression. His symphonies are surely some of the most important in a century that produced few works in that august genre. Honegger's music needs to be heard, and the third symphony is a great place to start.

"Pacific 231" never sounded so good!.......2001-11-26

Arthur Honegger may have been the greatest composer of the "Les Six" group. Francis Poulenc was certainly easier to listen to, and he was brilliant in his own right. And Darius Milhaud, an instructor of big-name jazz musicians and Burt Bacharach, had an extraordinary command of counterpoint and a flawless sense of form. But there seems to be something more substantial about Honegger's music, for all its sternness and sometimes turgid texture. His music is hard to warm up to, but, believe me, it is worth the journey.

Speaking of journeys (and on the same train of thought), the "Pacific 231" performance contained on this CD is beyond faulting. The recording engineer has refrained from adding any artificial effects to the mix, especially during the chromatically-descending polytonal slow-down near the end--every wonderful, crashing note shines through. I live for this moment when I listen to this piece. I envision a deer on the tracks and frantic cries of "Stop the train!" ("Gunsmoke" marathons on TVLand are to blame, here.)

The symphonies, by contrast, are not crowd-pleasers. They are demanding, dissonant, and (often) dark works that unfold with a cold logic offset by melodic genius of the first order and huge helpings of humanity. Such a balance between warmth and austerity might be Honegger's most amazing achievement.

Track Listings:

Track Listings

track listings

Track Listings

Ugly & Festering

Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 4

Big Delta

The Day of the Dead [Import]

Lichtgestalt [Import]

Can't Get Enough [Original recording remastered]

Billy Rose's Jumbo (1962 Film Soundtrack) [Soundtrack]

Beethoven: The Pianos Sonatas, Vol. 8

Armchair Empire

Basse Contre Basse

America Town

40 Tangos Para Bailar [Import]

Atado a Un Sentimiento

The Original Lost Elektra Sessions

Oneness