Messages

Mark,

I haven't watched it yet on YouTube but heard the first 20 minutes. Would you classify this as an opera or more like a musical play? It reminds me a bit of "The Dollar Princess" given the amount of dialogue.

Graziella and Fred have been great in keeping us updated on their projects and the customer service is great. They deserve success for that quality too.

Sound quality isn't ideal, especially for the strings, but I am so fond of Svetlanov's interpretations that I prefer them to the other releases.

The quality is better and less compressed on the 2017 Anthology of Russian Symphonic Music behemouth, but unless you want downloads, it is rare to find.

Found a photograph of Platen on the second page of a flyer for a theater in Fürth:

https://www.fuerthwiki.de/wiki/images/f/f4/Theaterflyer_F%C3%BCrth_1941.pdf

Listened to the album and found it very enjoyable, mainly Une Vie d'Artiste and Mélodie from Cinq pièces dans le style du passé.

I remember reading in a biography about Strong that he composed certain pieces to capture specific emotions which he believed couldn't be depicted in his watercolors.

Yes sorry I meant comic as in a light or lyric opera, not comedic.

This may be an unpopular opinion but I find much of the work to be dull. It rarely goes beyond being merely pleasant and the only part that stood out to me was the conclusion of Act I. It felt like the work was rushed at the end with an abrupt finish as well.

I felt that Benedetto Marcello worked much better as a comic work.

Is this the first opera recording of d'Erlanger? I know there is an excerpt from this work Tess.

This was released in May on Cascavelle and completely slipped by me.

https://vdegallo.com/en/produit/george-templeton-strong-quatre-nocturnes-cinq-pieces-dans-le-style-du-passe-klara-flieder-johannes-flieder-christophe-pantillon-adalberto-maria-riva/

Booklet

Would be interested in hearing Adriano's thoughts on it.

Why do you say physical media doesn't work for you, Ilja?

Ok I will do that, Terry! Thanks.

Yes I was referring to his symphonies, Eric. Tunge, Mørke Natteskyer is a great song, so I agree with you on the vocal works.

Anyway back to Bendix: The third movement Marcia solenne. Andante sostenuto from the first symphony will be released tomorrow. https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/9640032--symphony-no-1-in-c-major-op-16-ascension-iii-marcia-solenne

I assume this is a teaser by Dacapo to create interest.

Alan do you know what the recording dates are for this according to your CD? Perhaps we will get the other two symphonies in a similar timeframe.

The Idyll is terrific! I'm glad we have it on YouTube but I would prefer the CD if it has improved sound quality.

The album doesn't seem to be available digitally anywhere.

Bendix and Hermann have more in the way of discernable melodies than Nielsen, particularly Bendix's 3rd symphpony.

What do you think of the actual music, Alan?