Slavonic Dances
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Antonín Symphony No.6 2 Slavonic Dances Houston Symphony Andrés Orozco-Estrada ANTONÍN DVOŘÁK 18411904 “By all accounts, Dvořák was an earnest, generous and deeply gifted Symphony No. 6 in D, Op. 60 yet humble man. There is a remarkable honesty to his music and a 1 I. Allegro non tanto 15. 37 reverence for the great traditions of symphonic music, as epitomised 2 II. Adagio 9. 50 by the masterpieces of his mentor Johannes Brahms. Yet you can also 3 III. Scherzo (Furiant), Presto 8. 11 hear Dvořák’s quest to fi nd a voice in his music that embodied the love 4 IV. Finale. Allegro con spirito 9. 41 of his homeland and cultural roots. 5 Slavonic Dance Op. 72, No. 3 3. 39 Bohemian melodies and Slavonic folk tradition are fused into the orchestral fabric with joy, melancholy and inspiration. I identify with 6 Slavonic Dance Op. 46, No. 8 4. 28 this fusion of worlds in Dvořák’s Symphonies, not only because they are wonderful creations, but because they speak to my background which combines European tradition with a love of my homeland Colombia. I am proud to present the music of Dvořák on this recording with the Total playing time: 51. 36 Houston Symphony. Enjoy!” Houston Symphony Andrés Orozco-Estrada Conducted by Andrés Orozco-Estrada © Julie Soefer Symphony No. 6 in on 26 December, and then it will go to warmth and exuberance that Slavonic Dances leading musicians and recommended Opus 72, No. 3 in F major is a skočná Houston Symphony 16 performances at Carnegie Hall. London!” audiences treasure in its more famous him to publisher Fritz Simrock, who that builds up to its characteristic International appearances include D major, Opus 60 siblings. Its melodies are tinged with Even though Dvořák’s early works won handled Brahms’ music. Sensing a speedy pace after a more relaxed Led by Music Director Andrés Orozco- concerts in Singapore, Moscow and Richter eventually canceled the the buoyancy of Czech folk music, and him recognition close to home, they business opportunity in the Czech beginning. Opus 46, No. 8 in G minor Estrada, the Houston Symphony Japan, in addition to European tours Antonín Dvořák won his fi rst premiere, though, pleading overwork. its Czech heritage comes to the surface hardly brought in enough money to charm of Dvořák’s works, Simrock is a furiant, the lusty, syncopated continues its second century as one of with stops in England, France, Holland, international recognition thanks to the Dvořák heard reports that members of in the third movement: a furiant, a support him. In his early 30s, he applied commissioned him to compose folk- dance Dvořák also used as the third America’s leading orchestras. Founded Germany and Austria. In 2010, the charm of his Slavonic Dances and other the orchestra, which had performed his fi ery dance whose syncopated rhythms for a stipend that Austria’s culture style dances along the lines of Brahms’ movement of his Symphony No. 6. in 1913, the Houston Symphony is Symphony embarked on a seven-city, Czech-style vignettes. Then came a Slavonic Rhapsody No. 3 the previous enhance its gusto. Some scholars ministry gave to needy artists. When he Hungarian Dances, which had been a In this one, a rousing main dance one of the oldest performing arts eight-concert tour through the United call for something big: The director of season, balked at returning so soon to think Dvořák patterned the symphony won it, the payoff went beyond cash. hit. alternates with lilting interludes that organizations in Texas, and it off ers Kingdom, performing The Planets – An the Vienna Philharmonic, Hans Richter, him. Anti-Czech condescension − which after the Symphony No. 2 of Johannes feature the woodwinds’ sweetness. a full complement of concert, HD Odyssey to sold-out concert halls. asked Dvořák to compose a symphony. Dvořák confronted later in his career − Brahms, his main champion. Not only Leading Viennese musicians judged the Rather than borrowing folk tunes, community, education, touring may have fi gured in. do the works share a sunny demeanor, awards, and his works impressed the Dvořák created original works based on and recording activities. While the The full-time ensemble of 87 musicians The 36-year-old already had written but they contain overlaps in keys, panel’s most prestigious member. “The Czech dance forms. Simrock published Symphony’s home base is Jones Hall is the largest performing arts fi ve, but not for such high-profi le A Prague orchestra premiered the tempos, and other elements. But sympathy of an artist as important and his eight Slavonic Dances, Op. 46, in for the Performing Arts in downtown organization in Houston, presenting artists. In two months in 1880, Dvořák symphony, but Richter kept his promise Dvořák’s symphony has a zest of its famous as (Johannes) Brahms should 1878, and by the next year, orchestras Houston, the orchestra serves the more than 300 performances annually. created his new work, melding the to conduct it in London. “The orchestra own. not only be pleasant but also useful to in England, France and Germany had entire Greater Houston region, regularly four-movement form championed by is truly delighted. .... I am certain it you,” another judge informed Dvořák, performed them. Naturally, Simrock performing at locations around the For more information, please visit Viennese greats with his own, proudly will be a great success,” Richter wrote “and I think you should write to him. wanted more. But Dvořák balked: “To community. www.houstonsymphony.org. Czech musical voice. He visited Vienna during rehearsals. “But it has also been … It would be advantageous for your do the same thing twice is fi endishly to play the symphony on the piano for rehearsed with love.” things to become known beyond your diffi cult,” he wrote. But Dvořák gave As a cultural ambassador for the city Richter. “Richter loved the symphony so narrow Czech homeland.” in, composing eight more Slavonic and region, the Houston Symphony much so that he gave me a kiss after Today, Dvořák’s last three symphonies Dances, Op. 72. has toured extensively, from road every movement,” Dvořák told a friend. receive much more love. Yet the Thus Dvořák gained a powerful booster. tours to military bases in Texas and “It will be performed for the fi rst time Symphony No. 6 radiates the lyricism, Brahms promoted his works among Louisiana during World War II, to English Artists Andrés Orozco- chief conductor of the Frankfurt Radio Orozco-Estrada has worked with the Orchestre National de France and Symphonie Nr. 6 Dvořák: „Richter liebte die Symphonie ist wahrlich erfreut. (...) Ich bin mir Förderers Brahms gestaltet habe. Beide Symphony Orchestra and principal most prominent European orchestras, Oslo Philharmonic. He has also so sehr, dass er mich nach jedem sicher, dass es ein großer Erfolg werden Werke legen nicht nur ein sonniges Estrada guest conductor of the London including the Munich Philharmonic, performed with the Pittsburgh D-Dur op. 60 Satz küsste. Sie wird erstmals am 26. wird“, schrieb Richter während der Gemüt an den Tag, sondern weisen Philharmonic Orchestra. Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Dezember aufgeführt werden, und Proben. Und weiter „Aber es ist auch Übereinstimmungen bei Tonarten, Andrés Orozco-Estrada began his Mahler Chamber Orchestra, City of Concertgebouw Amsterdam, as well as Seine internationalen Meriten hatte danach auch in London.“ mit Liebe einstudiert worden.“ Tempi und anderen Elementen auf. tenure as Music Director of the Houston Born in Medellin, Colombia, Orozco- Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, at the Salzburg Festival. sich Antonin Dvořák mit dem Zauber Dennoch hat Dvořáks Symphonie ihre Symphony in the 2014-2015 season, Estrada began his musical studies on Orchestra di Santa Cecilia in Rome, seiner Slawischen Tänze und anderer Doch Richter sagte die Urauff ührung Heutzutage stehen Dvořáks drei letzte ganz eigene Würze. and he immediately established a the violin, and started conducting at Charakterskizzen im tschechischen Stil ab. Er sei überarbeitet. Dvořák jedoch Symphonien weitaus höher im Kurs. dynamic presence on the podium and age 15. At 19, he entered the Vienna erworben. Doch dann kam aus Wien kamen Berichte zu Ohren, dass sich Und dennoch strahlt auch die Sechste a deep connection with musicians Music Academy, where he studied with der Auftrag zu einem großen Werk: Mitglieder der Wiener Philharmoniker, Symphonie all jene Eigenschaften wie Slawische Tänze and audiences. Orozco-Estrada Uroš Lajovic (pupil of the legendary Hofkapellmeister Hans Richter bat die seine Slawische Rhapsodie Nr. 3 in Lyrizismen, Wärme und Überschwang carefully curates his programs to Hans Swarowsky), and he went on to Dvořák um eine Symphonie. der vorigen Spielzeit aufgeführt hatten, aus, die das Publikum in den Auch wenn Dvořáks frühe Werke feature engaging combinations of complete his degree with distinction dagegen ausgesprochen hätten, schon beliebteren Schwesterwerken so sehr in seiner direkten Umgebung für classical masterworks paired with the conducting the Vienna Radio Symphony Der 36jährige Komponist hatte zwar wieder Werke Dvořáks aufzuführen. schätzt. Ihre Melodien sind von der Anerkennung sorgten – genügend Geld music of today, signifi cant artistic Orchestra at the Musikverein. Orozco- bereits fünf Symphonien komponiert, Dabei könnte durchaus eine anti- Beschwingtheit der tschechischen für den Lebensunterhalt erbrachten collaborations with contemporary Estrada burst onto the international aber nicht für einen derart profi lierten tschechische Haltung, mit der Dvořák Volksmusik eingefärbt und gerade im sie nicht. Und so bewarb er sich composers and guest artists, and scene with two substitutions with the Künstler. 1880 vollendete er in zwei im weiteren Verlauf seiner Karriere dritten Satz kommt das tschechische mit 32 Jahren um ein staatliches innovative use of multimedia and visual Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. The Monaten sein neues Werk, in dem konfrontiert werden sollte, eine Rolle Erbe an die Oberfl äche: ein Furiant, Stipendium des österreichischen eff ects, all in order to make meaningful fi rst substitution was his debut in 2010, er die klassische Viersätzigkeit der gespielt haben.