Hindemith - Mathis Der Maler - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

The Russian composer Yevgeny Zemtsov (1940-2016) may be better known for the dynasty of musicians - most of them violists - that he fathered than he is for his own music. This first album ever to be devoted to his music features works from the beginning and end of his career some early violin works, influenced by Tchaikovsky and Prokofiev, a Bartókian string quartet, three spirited and spiky piano miniatures, an oblique piano elegy and five late, enigmatic, almost ritualistic settings of Japanese haikus. Late in life, too, he discovered a fascination with tango, and the album also features his elegant arrangements for string quartet and quintet of two Piazzolla favorites.

Claudio Monteverdis Orfeo, premiered in February 1607, is the oldest opera still in repertoire today. The work fell into oblivion for more than three centuries, and it was only in 1927 that the first printed score was reprinted in a facsimile edition. But while the score gave fairly clear directions to vocalists, it lacked specificity in notating the instrumental parts, leaving many vital choices, including what instruments to use, up to the performers. A number of late-Romantic versions followed, but it was only in 1943 that Paul Hindemith published his thoroughly researched score which attempted to reconstruct the style and instrumentation of Monteverdi's first performance.

Hindemith / Zoch-Westpha / Ensemble Variant - Hindemith Der Damon & Herodiade [COMPACT DISCS] date 07/08/2016