Sheffer,Jonathan / Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra - Conference of the Birds - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Anton Bruckner's Sixth Symphony from 1881 and Karl Amadeus Hartmann's Sixth Symphony from 1953 are examples of Romantic and late-Romantic compositions of rare expressiveness. Bruckner's music ranges between the poles of intimacy and triumph, Hartmann's between melancholy and apocalyptic vision. This is a re- of the SWRmusic bestseller 93.051 which features the SWR Sinfonieorchester Baden-Baden und Freiburg with conductor Ferdinand Leitner. Ferdinand Leitner studied at the Music School in his home city under Fritz Schreker and Julius Prüwer from 1926 to 1931, as well as receiving instruction from Artur Schnabel and Karl Muck. Leitner became known mainly as an opera conductor. He promoted 20th-century German opera, especially the works of Carl Orff and Karl-Amadeus Hartmann. His premieres include the operas Oedipus the King by Carl Orff (1959), Don Juan und Faust (1950) as well as Hamlet (1980), both by Hermannn Reutter. He succeeded Erich Kleiber as conductor of the German operas at the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires in 1956. From 1969 to 1984, he was senior musical director of the Zürich Opera and from 1976 to 1980 principal conductor of the Residence Orchestra in The Hague at the same time. From 1988, he was principal guest conductor of the RAI Symphony Orchestra in Turin.

This album features diverse orchestral works of 2 composers united by their affinity for energetic, stylistic, and rhythmic composition. Stellar performances from the Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra clearly illustrate each composer's similar styles and subtle differences.

Composer Michael Murray's album PASSAGES brings the words of iconic 19th and 20th century poets to life through stirring music for solo soprano and instruments. Murray has selected poetry from the likes of Robert Louis Stevenson, William Butler Yeats, William Wordsworth, John Keats, and Walt Whitman, with poems detailing childhood adventure, hope, and tragedy. Celebrated soprano Genevieve Fulks performs throughout; most of the music heard on the album was written specifically with her voice in mind. Murray's music has been lauded for it's meticulously crafted yet ultimately approachable style. Through familiar themes and time-honored poetry, Murray invites listeners to engage with, and even be challenged by, this collection of thoughtful compositions.