The Scottish Opera - Bernstein, L. : Trouble in Tahiti: Symphonic D - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Album Tracks 1. Candide Overture - the Age of Anxiety Symphony No.2 for Piano and Orchestra 2. The Prologue 3. Variation I L'istesso Tempo 4. Variation II Poco Piu Mosso 5. Variation III Largamente 6. Variation IV Piu Mosso 7. Viriation V 8. Variation VI Poco Meno Mosso 9. Variation VII L'istesso Tempo 10. Variation VII Molto Moderato, Ma Movendo 11. Variation IX Piu Mosso (Tempo Di Valse) 12. Variation X Piu Mosso 13. Variation XI L'istesso Tempo 14. Variation Xii Poco Piu Vivace 15. Variation XII L'istesso Tempo 16. Variation XIV Poco Piu Vivace 17. The Dirge 18. The Masque 19. The Epilogue 20. Enter Three Sailors 21. Scene at the Bar 22. Enter Two Girls 23. Pas de Deux 24. Competition Scene Three Dance Variations 25. I. Galop 26. II. Waltz 27. III. Danzon 28. Finale

Part One A - The Prologue introduces the four characters, Quant, a second generation Irish-American, Malin, a medical intelligence officer with the Canadian Air Force, Rosetta, employee at a department store, and Emble, serving in the Navy. After a duo for clarinets, a descending flute scale leads into B - The Seven Ages, where discussion is depicted in seven variants of material already heard. After a tranquil piano solo, soloist and orchestra exchange motifs, then strings have a lyrical theme. A perky scherzo precedes a restless Prokofiev-like idea, before a pensive piano theme and some plaintive woodwind activity. A descending piano sequence leads into C - The Seven Stages, seven further variations representing the four characters as they engage in a variety of relationships. After a stern passacaglia, a waltz section reintroduces the soloist for a syncopated passage, an incisive fugato and an ironic moto perpetuo. The passacaglia theme returns as an orchestral chorale, the piano re-entering to effect a brusque close to the first part. Part Two A - The Dirge relates the four protagonists as they take a taxi-ride to Rosetta's apartment, meanwhile regretting the absence of a spiritual 'father figure' in their lives. Opening with a subdued but intense twelve-note row, the music gradually becomes more impassioned, before leading into B - The Masque, a scintillating scherzo in which the four characters throw an increasingly reckless party, piano accompanied by harp, celesta and percussion. This fades out as C - The Epilogue starts with the four characters leaving their past behind them for something more spiritual, as represented by solo trumpet. The music builds as a slow but implacable chorale, taking in a piano cadenza which reviews earlier themes, and reaching a climax of hard-won triumph. As first performed and recorded, the piano was silent in this climax, but B

Album Tracks 1. Grosser Dankchoral (Great Hymn of Thanksgiving) Sostenuto 2. Ballade Vom Ertrunken Mädchen (Ballad of the Drowned Girl) Lento 3. Marterl (Epitaph) Andante Moderato 4. Erster Bericht Über Den Unbekannten Soldaten Unter Dem Triumphbogen (Legend of the Unknown Soldier) 5. Zweiter Bericht Über Den Unbekannten Soldaten Under Dem Triumphbogen (Second Poem on the Unknown So 6. Grosser Dankchoral (Great Hymn of Thanksgiving) (Da Capo) 7. Invocation 8. Kaddish 1 9. Din-Torah 10. Kaddish 2 11. Scherzo 12. Kaddish 3 13. Finale. Fugue-Tutti