Forthcoming from Toccata:
Moritz MOSZKOWSKI: Orchestral Music, Volume One
Johanna d'Arc, Op. 19
Sinfonia Varsovia
Ian Hobson, conductor
TOCC0523
This is most exciting. However, while not complaining, I hope there will be another piece on the disk. Fleisher gives the running time of "Joan of Arc" as 45mins.
I can't remember any short Toccata discs, but then again I hardly paid attention to THAT many.
According to the list I have, the other substantial orchestral music is three generically titled suites (no recording?), From Foreign Lands and that symphony talked about in the other thread. A number of smaller pieces exist, some of them on that Reference disc.
*shrug*
This is marvellous news - I've just read a short book on Moszkowski so I'm keen to hear more of his works!
Oh, that's terrific news.
Seems like this will be a 'must buy'. I wonder if it will be available as a download.
Toccata recordings are always available as downloads too, Colin.
Just a brief note about the duration of Johanna d'Arc - this checks in at a few seconds under the full hour of playing time, so allowing for breaks between movements, we have a "Symphony" of a full hour's duration, and all I can say at present is that it will be well worth waiting for - and a cracking start to an eagerly-awaited series!
Oh, that's good news. Martin. Thanks.
May I echo Alan's thanks, Martin. The Fleisher timing must be only an estimate, based on the score alone and not an actual performance. I very much look forward to this release.
Thanks for the clarification, Martin. Do you have any information about which Moszkowski works might be planned for future releases?
On the matter of published timings: these are often very approximate, in my experience. Think about it: how on earth can libraries, publishers, etc. give accurate information when a work hasn't been performed in living memory?
Consider also how widely timings vary in recordings of the same piece (excluding the matter of repeats), especially longer pieces. Elgar's symphonies, for example, can vary by more than 10 minutes...
I understand that Martin Anderson is very keen to do a complete Moszkowski project - piano solo, songs, chamber and orchestral. I don't know what the situation will be for "Boabdil" & "Laurin", but hopefully we will get the relevant orchestral suites from both as a minimum! I also hope this will put Moszkowski into true perspective, which was so lacking in the release issued by Reference, who seemed to want to perpetuate the myth that he was only a "light" composer who could not produce anything of substance! Amongst other things, we will also need to get a score and set of parts prepared for the D minor symphony, as well as the MS overture also held at BnF.
The last-named would be a wonderful project. Thanks, Martin.
Cannot wait to hear the Johanna D'Arc! And eventually the Dm Symphony, if all goes well. Great news, all of this.
I ordered scans of the overture MS some time ago... made a dorico noteperformer recording some time back.
http://www.unsungcomposers.com/forum/index.php/topic,7208.0.html (http://www.unsungcomposers.com/forum/index.php/topic,7208.0.html)
This twitter post states the suite op.39 is recorded too. Probably it'll complement the Joan of Arc CD https://twitter.com/toccatamusicgrp/status/1073224885936291845
Yes, that seems the clear inference.
I will be meeting with Ian Hobson shortly concerning the Moszkowski project! He is now looking to record the D minor symphony in the late autumn - as well as the 2nd and 3rd suites, but this will depend on getting score and parts prepared in time, so I will now ask if those here involved in producing the enticing sound files of both the symphony and early overture can help. If the relevant realisations can produce files capable of being converted so that the score and parts can be produced in printed form, this will be of immense help in getting this project completed in the shortest of time scales! Otherwise, both works will have to be completely re-set on an appropriate scorewriting programme which will obviously delay proceedings somewhat! Meanwhile, though, the imminent release of Johanna d'Arc should certainly whet more than a few appetites, and provide a firm launchpad for a delectable ongoing series of recordings!
I can't tell you how exciting I think this project is. I hope room may subsequently be found for the early and recently rediscovered Overture in D and some orchestral excerpts from Boabdil, together with the ballet Laurin, performance materials for the latter two being available at Fleischer.
I echo what Gareth has written. Such a welcome development.:
And I echo Mark's echo...
Vol.1 is slated for release on 4th October:
https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8668746--moritz-moszkowski-orchestral-music-volume-one (https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8668746--moritz-moszkowski-orchestral-music-volume-one)
(https://d27t0qkxhe4r68.cloudfront.net/t_300/toccataclassicstocc0523.jpg?1567175918)
Not long to wait then... :)
Thanks for the notice, Alan. This is a very welcome release...
(British understatement!)
Most welcome ;)
The music can be now be heard in all its glory here:
https://toccataclassics.com/product/moritz-moszkowski-orchestral-music-volume-one/ (https://toccataclassics.com/product/moritz-moszkowski-orchestral-music-volume-one/)
I can certainly hear Raff's influence - another point in Moszkowski's favour. Hugely looking forward to this release.
Yes! Try the last movement and think Lenore! Not to mention Tchaikovsky...
Well, absolutely, but none the worse for that!
No, absolutely not. Sounds extremely entertaining.
... and a superb performance and spacious recording. This is a wonderful issue in every respect.
I reckon this is a major find. I don't think Martin Anderson always hits the mark in Romantic-era repertoire, but he definitely does here. It also helps to have a very fine orchestra and conductor involved. I just hope that the critics have their listening ears on...
Eh so I'll be the dissenting voice and say I'm not really feeling it. But it's great that it's out there and that there's more to come.
Fair enough. Any particular reason(s)?
Any reservation I may have concerns whether this highly attractive and memorable music will 'stay the course'. In other words, has it the depth required to sustain repeated listenings? An hour is, after all, an awfully long time...
I have yet to listen to the download I've bought, but I did listen to the full work streamed from the Toccata web site before the recording was released, I must admit that my first impression was of a certain blandness or lack of individuality which its length exacerbated. That said, I was hardly hearing it under optimum conditions, so I'll reserve judgement until I can hear the piece properly.
The second time I listened I wasn't as impressed. Something to do with the what I think is the work's surface brilliance - which I'm not sure has much substance behind it.
I suppose it just seemed like a reletively typical late romantic piece that had no melodies or orchestration to stand out and make me say "yes, this is something I like".
Actually, I think the melodies and orchestration are rather attractive - it's the substance that seems to be lacking in my view.
Having had the advantage of many repeated listenings of Johanna d'Arc whilst working on the accompanying notes for this release, I have to say that the more I got to actually know the music, the more impressed I became with the content, even allowing for an initial positive bias on my part. Obviously I hope a certain initial positive momentum will continue as I am looking forward with keen anticipation to the forthcoming continuation of the series with the orchestral suites seemingly next on the list......!
When I listened again I found myself overwhelmed by the sheer ambition and invention of this magnificent score. Kudos to all involved.
Have to say, I am bowled over by the simply gorgeous second movement – that limpid string melody is particularly wonderful. Although some of the writing elsewhere drags a little too much for comfort, it's a work I've been listening to with much enjoyment over the past three weeks. Now listening to the D minor symphony on YouTube, which offers more of the kind of riches on display on Toccata's release.
Hurwitz has now reviewed the work - largely positively:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsSaHpyNV2I
Yes, a good and intelligent review from Mr Hurwitz, which ought to win Moszkowski more friends - or at least encourage some who might otherwise ignore him to explore his music. I applaud Hurwitz's opinion of Moszkowski and look forward to what he may have to say about Volume 2.
He's wrong about Rheinberger's Wallenstein Symphony, though. IMHO.
Unfortunately, that is one orchestral work of Rheinberger's that I have never heard. I must do so. And I see there are two different performances available on YouTube, so I have no excuse, and will remedy the omission shortly.
Much the better of the two available commercial recordings is the one on Ars:
https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8672486--rheinberger-symphony-in-d-minor-op-10-wallenstein
Here's the brief thread on that recording from 2019:
http://www.unsungcomposers.com/forum/index.php/topic,7331.msg77280.html#msg77280
This is the YouTube video to watch:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hnIscAao_I
(The Ars recording with the same performers is in much better sound, of course!)
IMHO Hurwitz is spot on in almost every respect about Moszkowski's Joan of Arc. He doesn't shy away from the works substantial flaws, and gives Moszkowski credit where it's due.