New Ciurlionis Recording Out on Ondine Label with Overture Rarity

[JP]

Greetings everyone, another rare Baltic post-romantic treat from Ondine.  You have the usual In the Forest / The Sea standard fare coupled with the rare orchestrated rendition of the Kestutis Overture. 

https://www.ondine.net/?lid=en&cid=2.2&oid=6487

https://www.naxos.com/catalogue/item.asp?item_code=ODE1344-2

https://www.naxos.com/SharedFiles/pdf/rear/ODE1344-2r.pdf#

https://www.naxos.com/reviews/reviewslist.asp?catalogueid=ODE1344-2&languageid=EN

For those unable to obtain the latest Ondine label recordings from their CD stores or via online orders thru Presto or JPC due to the present Covid situation in your respective countries/regions unless you purchase the mp3 downloads directly from these sites,

< https://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/the-sea-in-the-forest-kestutis-overt/hnum/9722312 >

< https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8768022--iurlionis-the-sea-in-the-forest-kestutis >

you can otherwise listen to these tracks here from YouTube: 

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Ciurlionis+Lithuanian-National-Symphony-Orchestra+Modestas-Pitr%C4%97nas

Kęstutis <  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3MozU4nS3I  >

In the Forest < https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-3c28gbx34 >

The Sea < https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kGTf5yXW1g&t=146s >

Happy listening everyone, stay healthy & safe...

[Alan Howe]

Yes, a must-buy. Thanks for pointing it out.

[Christopher]

The Kestutis was uploaded here several years ago.  I don't know if its the same version.

[JP]

In addition, you can also hear the stirring patriotic strains of Ciurlionis' all too brief ''De Profundis'' cantata issued on Northern Flowers label from LNSO's Youtube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1hK27_Im9I

JP 

[dhibbard]

Yes I ordered mine a few weeks ago....   available on Amazon.  I have really been impressed with what Ondine has released recently.  Some good recordings.

[semloh]

Christopher, I think the upload on UC was the same orchestra but conducted by Šervenikas: at least that's the one I have.
I wonder how the new Ondine CD compares to the old Marco Polo version of The Sea and In the Forest. More to the point, is it worth buying the new disc, if one already has the Marco Polo?

[Wheesht]

The Ondine recording of The Sea is apparently the original, longer version. Years ago, I bought the first recording of this original version on a Japanese CD from 1992, played by the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra conducted by Gintaras Rinkevičius. The Sea is 37 minutes in that recording – it'll be interesting to compare it with this new one that clocks in at 32'.

[M. Yaskovsky]

Got the Cd yesterday via jpc.de. I'm very impressed, great dynamic recording. Sublime orchestral playing and tone painting. The booklet text is rather strange. Seems the English text is a Google translation of a Baltic language. Although my English isn't 100% too, it's confusing reading.

[Alan Howe]

I note that Svetlanov's recording of The Sea takes 29:18:
https://www.amazon.co.jp/-/en/gp/product/B000PUB8CO/ref=ox_sc_saved_image_2?smid=AN1VRQENFRJN5&psc=1
...wonder which version this is?
It can be heard here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpaQUbA0sUA

[Rainolf]

Indeed a very fine CD! It is not only important because of the Kestutis Overture, because here you can hear the original, uncut version of The Sea. The score published in soviet times, that you can find on Imslp, was a revision by Eduardas Balsys, who changed some details in the instrumentation (he eliminated most of the cymbal strokes) and shorted the development section.

[Alan Howe]

It is not only important because of the Kestutis Overture

Indeed, although it's important to understand that this is an orchestration by the composer Jurgis Juozapaitis (b.1942).