September’s programme got off to a stunning start. We were fortunate enough to access a recording of Dvorak’s 9th (”New World”) Symphony by our very own Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. Recorded at a concert just a few weeks previously it showed us what a world class orchestra we have right on our doorstep so to speak. Without wanting to take away from the performers of other works we looked at in the same session (an excerpt from Berlioz’ Harold in Italy and Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto), the Dvorak symphony was a standout recording.
The second session for the month, although each work had its own individual claims to brilliance seemed to pale a little by way of comparison. There was Copland’s virtuosic Clarinet Concerto (it was commissioned and composed for Benny Goodman), Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances (his last hurrah composition-wise), and Mozart’s Piano Concerto No.20 - written strangely in a minor key (most, of his works are in a major key). In this case the key was D minor – the central key for his Requiem, the Queen of the Night aria from his opera The Magic Flute, and the more haunting moments of the opera Don Giovanni.
Links to the notes and recordings for both sessions are:
Session Notes - 9th September
Berlioz - Harold in Italy, 1st Movement
Dvorak - Symphony No.9
Mendelssohn - Violin Concerto in E minor
Session Notes - 23rd September
Copland Clarinet Concerto
Rachmaninoff Symphonic Dances
Mozart Piano Concerto No.20
Bill Squire
The second session for the month, although each work had its own individual claims to brilliance seemed to pale a little by way of comparison. There was Copland’s virtuosic Clarinet Concerto (it was commissioned and composed for Benny Goodman), Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances (his last hurrah composition-wise), and Mozart’s Piano Concerto No.20 - written strangely in a minor key (most, of his works are in a major key). In this case the key was D minor – the central key for his Requiem, the Queen of the Night aria from his opera The Magic Flute, and the more haunting moments of the opera Don Giovanni.
Links to the notes and recordings for both sessions are:
Session Notes - 9th September
Berlioz - Harold in Italy, 1st Movement
Dvorak - Symphony No.9
Mendelssohn - Violin Concerto in E minor
Session Notes - 23rd September
Copland Clarinet Concerto
Rachmaninoff Symphonic Dances
Mozart Piano Concerto No.20
Bill Squire
