Posts Tagged “New Zealand Symphony Orchestra”

GREY, M.: Enemy Slayer: A Navajo Oratorio album cover GREY, M.: Enemy Slayer: A Navajo Oratorio album cover

An interview with Peter Breiner who was commissioned to create orchestral suites from the operas of Czech composer Leos Janacek.

These brilliant arrangements truly reflect the unique musical language that make Janacek’s operas some of the best written in the 20th century.

Album details…
Catalogue No.: Naxos 8.570555 & 8.570556

 

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Tags: artist interview, Czech composers, Czech music, Czech opera, Jenufa, Kát'a Kabanová, Leos Janacek, Naxos commissions, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Peter Breiner, The Excursions of Mr. Broucek, The Makropulos Affair

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8.570556 Next Volume of Janaceks Operatic Orchestral SuiteOn April 28, Naxos releases the second of a three-disc series of recordings of orchestral suites created from operas by Czech composer Leoš Janáček. The second volume of suites, arranged and conducted by Czech-born Peter Breiner, features performances by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. The two suites in the release include orchestral themes and vocal material from the scores of Janáček’s romantic tragedy Kát’a Kabanová (1921) and his fantastical The Makropoulos Affair (1926). A third and final volume of Janáček/Breiner suites, including music from his operas The Cunning Little Vixen and From The House of the Dead, is slated for future release.Composer, arranger, pianist, and conductor Peter Breiner, who has contributed to over 100 Naxos recordings, received a special commission to create the suites exclusively for the label. Breiner is a passionate advocate for the music of his fellow Czech compatriot, with whom he shares a birthday, July 3. Breiner also played in an orchestra based in Brno, Czech Republic, for two years, which is where Janáček spent a lot of his time and saw many of his works premiered.

Breiner notes that the project is the first time that selected material from Janáček’s operas appears in purely instrumental form. Regarding the first set of suites featuring music from Jenůfa and The Excursions of Mr. Brouček, previously released by Naxos in February 2009, Breiner remarked: “These are not your regular suites, which would only include the orchestral music from the operas (overture, interludes, preludes, postludes, and intermezzos) … These suites have plenty of material that was originally vocal (solos, duets, choruses) and was ‘converted’ into instrumental music.” Breiner’s challenge was to choose the highest quality excerpts and themes that were most representative from each opera, cautiously editing and revising them to ultimately create fresh orchestral suites that would appropriately reflect the composer’s distinctive style and colorful aesthetic.

Tags: Kát'a Kabanová, Leos Janacek, Makropoulos Affair, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Peter Breiner

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SIBELIUS, J.: Night Ride and Sunrise album coverThe great Finnish composer Jean Sibelius is best known for his seven great symphonies. Lost in the shadow of these monunental works is some equally wonderful music he wrote for various theatre productions.

This podcast looks at this music, and a new recording by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra conducted by Pietari Inkinen.

Album details…
Catalogue No.: Naxos 8.570763

 

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* enhanced version of the podcast contains chapter markers and cover art.

Tags: 8.570763, Finnish composers, Jean Sibelius, Kuolema, Naxos Classical Music Spotlight, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Night Ride and Sunrise, Pan and Echo, Pietari Inkinen, Scene with Cranes, Suite from Belshazzar's Feast, Valse romantique, Valse Triste

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MAJESTIC JOURNEY - Original Works for Euphonium and Orchestra album coverAn interview with euphonium virtuoso Adam Frey about his CD Majestic Journey, with music by Kevin Kaska, John Golland, Vladimir Cosma, Peter Graham and Philip Sparke.

Adam talks about the history of the euphonium and commissioning composers to write new music for his instrument.

Album details…
Catalogue No.: Naxos 8.570538

 

Tags: 8.570538, Adam Frey, euphonium, John Golland, Kevin Kaska, Naxos Classical Music Spotlight, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Peter Graham, Philip Sparke, Vladimir Cosma

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RAUTAVAARA: Symphony No. 8, 'The Journey' / Manhattan Trilogy / Apotheosis album coverAn introduction to the latest symphony by Finnish Composer Einojuhani Rautavaara, his Symphony No. 8 “The Journey”.

Album Details…
Catalogue No.: Naxos 8.570069

 

Tags: 8.570069, Apotheosis, Einojuhani Rautavaara, Finnish music, Manhattan Trilogy, Naxos Classical Music Spotlight, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Pietari Inkinen, Symphony, The Journey

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