Extreme Classics Over Two Hours of the World’S Most Exciting Classical Music

extreme classics over two hours of the world’s most exciting classical music

Respighi Elgar Wagner Stravinsky Holst Mussorgsky Copland Khachaturian Saint-Saëns DDD Shostakovich Antheil Tchaikovsky Bruckner 8.557941-42 Sibelius Turina Orff Ginastera Glière Prokofiev CD 1 flamenco rhythms and Spanish fire. Ginastera’s Malambo is in the 01 Khachaturian Sabre Dance (from Gayaneh) ...... 2:24 composer’s typically energetic style. St Petersburg State Symphony Orchestra, Andre Anichanov (conductor) O Fortuna from Orff’s Carmina Burana is one of the world’s most popular 02 Holst Mars, the Bringer of War (from The Planets) ...... 7:42 classical pieces. It has been used in numerous television commercials and CSR Symphony Orchestra, Adrian Leaper (conductor) film soundtracks possibly because of the impact made by the chanting choir 03 Wagner Ride of the Valkyries (from Die Walküre) ...... 5:24 and the huge dynamic contrasts in the orchestra. CSR Symphony Orchestra, Uwe Mund (conductor) Extreme Classics closes with two pieces from one of the most spectacular 04 Stravinsky King Kastchei’s Infernal Dance (from The Firebird) ...... 4:44 BRT Philharmonic Orchestra, Alexander Rahbari (conductor) works ever written – the orchestration by Ravel of Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition. The sinister Hut on Fowl’s Legs introduces The Great Gate 05 Respighi Pines of the Appian Way (from The Pines of Rome) ...... 4:17 of Kiev Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Enrique Bátiz (conductor) where the sound of Russian bells rings out over a brass-drenched finale. 06 Mussorgsky Gopak (from Sorochinsty Fair) ...... 1:47 Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, Kenneth Jean (conductor) 07 Saint-Saëns Presto-finale (from Symphony No 3 ‘Organ’) ...... 7:48 Imrich Szabo (organ), CSR Symphony Orchestra, Stephen Gunzenhauser (conductor) 08 Copland Fanfare for the Common Man ...... 2:50 Publishing Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, Stephen Gunzenhauser (conductor) Disc 1 Tracks 1, 4, 8, 10, 11, 13 Copyright Control 09 Turina Orgía (from Fantastic Dances) ...... 4:52 Tracks 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 12, 14 Public Domain Castile and Leon Symphony Orchestra, Max Bragado Darman (conductor) 10 Antheil Ballet Mécanique ...... 15:52 Disc 2 Tracks 3, 4, 7, 8, 9 Copyright Control Philadelphia Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra, Daniel Spalding (conductor) Tracks 1, 2, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12 Public Domain 11 Shostakovich Polka (from Age of Gold) ...... 1:54 New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Christopher Lyndon-Gee (conductor) 12 Wagner Siegfried’s Death and Funeral March ...... 8:14 8.557941-42 (from Götterdämmerung) All rights in this sound recording, artwork and texts reserved. Unauthorised CSR Symphony Orchestra, Uwe Mund (conductor) lending, public performance, broadcasting and copying of this compact disc 13 Shostakovich Scherzo (from Symphony No 10) ...... 4:19 prohibited BRT Philharmonic Orchestra, Alexander Rahbari (conductor) (p) & (c) 2005 Naxos Rights International Ltd 14 Tchaikovsky 1812 Overture (Finale) ...... 3:44 Made in Germany Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Adrian Leaper (conductor)

2 7 CD 1 flamenco rhythms and Spanish fire. Ginastera’s Malambo is in the 01 Khachaturian Sabre Dance (from Gayaneh) ...... 2:24 composer’s typically energetic style. St Petersburg State Symphony Orchestra, Andre Anichanov (conductor) O Fortuna from Orff’s Carmina Burana is one of the world’s most popular 02 Holst Mars, the Bringer of War (from The Planets) ...... 7:42 classical pieces. It has been used in numerous television commercials and CSR Symphony Orchestra, Adrian Leaper (conductor) film soundtracks possibly because of the impact made by the chanting choir 03 Wagner Ride of the Valkyries (from Die Walküre) ...... 5:24 and the huge dynamic contrasts in the orchestra. CSR Symphony Orchestra, Uwe Mund (conductor) Extreme Classics closes with two pieces from one of the most spectacular 04 Stravinsky King Kastchei’s Infernal Dance (from The Firebird) ...... 4:44 BRT Philharmonic Orchestra, Alexander Rahbari (conductor) works ever written – the orchestration by Ravel of Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition. The sinister Hut on Fowl’s Legs introduces The Great Gate 05 Respighi Pines of the Appian Way (from The Pines of Rome) ...... 4:17 of Kiev Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Enrique Bátiz (conductor) where the sound of Russian bells rings out over a brass-drenched finale. 06 Mussorgsky Gopak (from Sorochinsty Fair) ...... 1:47 Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, Kenneth Jean (conductor) 07 Saint-Saëns Presto-finale (from Symphony No 3 ‘Organ’) ...... 7:48 Imrich Szabo (organ), CSR Symphony Orchestra, Stephen Gunzenhauser (conductor) 08 Copland Fanfare for the Common Man ...... 2:50 Publishing Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, Stephen Gunzenhauser (conductor) Disc 1 Tracks 1, 4, 8, 10, 11, 13 Copyright Control 09 Turina Orgía (from Fantastic Dances) ...... 4:52 Tracks 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 12, 14 Public Domain Castile and Leon Symphony Orchestra, Max Bragado Darman (conductor) 10 Antheil Ballet Mécanique ...... 15:52 Disc 2 Tracks 3, 4, 7, 8, 9 Copyright Control Philadelphia Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra, Daniel Spalding (conductor) Tracks 1, 2, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12 Public Domain 11 Shostakovich Polka (from Age of Gold) ...... 1:54 New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Christopher Lyndon-Gee (conductor) 12 Wagner Siegfried’s Death and Funeral March ...... 8:14 8.557941-42 (from Götterdämmerung) All rights in this sound recording, artwork and texts reserved. Unauthorised CSR Symphony Orchestra, Uwe Mund (conductor) lending, public performance, broadcasting and copying of this compact disc 13 Shostakovich Scherzo (from Symphony No 10) ...... 4:19 prohibited BRT Philharmonic Orchestra, Alexander Rahbari (conductor) (p) & (c) 2005 Naxos Rights International Ltd 14 Tchaikovsky 1812 Overture (Finale) ...... 3:44 Made in Germany Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Adrian Leaper (conductor)

2 7 Polka from Age of Gold is similarly extrovert (and very brief). Mussorgsky’s CD 2 Gopak is another short but entertaining piece. 01 Elgar March of the Mogul Emperors ...... 3:50 Sibelius’ Finlandia has a strong Russian connection. Written around 1900 as New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, James Judd (conductor) a response to Russia’s invasion of Finland, Finlandia became the patriotic 02 Wagner Entry of the Gods into Valhalla (from Das Rheingold) ...... 7:09 expression of a country suffering under the domination of a foreign power. CSR Symphony Orchestra, Uwe Mund (conductor) It’s a work with a powerful emotional impact that still resonates today. 03 Orff O Fortuna (from Carmina Burana) ...... 2:40 Slovak Philharmonic Chorus, Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, Respighi’s Roman Trilogy is almost incomparably noisy at times. Pines of Stephen Gunzenhauser (conductor) the Appian Way (from The Pines of Rome) has a quiet beginning which 04 Sibelius Finlandia ...... 8:26 depicts a Roman army marching in the distance. This builds to an extraordi- CSR Symphony Orchestra, Kenneth Schermerhorn (conductor) nary and thrilling climax. Epiphany (from Roman Festivals) is an almost 05 Respighi Epiphany (from Roman Festivals) ...... 5:22 outrageous concoction of orchestral mayhem. After completing Roman Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Enrique Bátiz (conductor) Festivals, Respighi noted that “with the present constitution of the orchestra, 06 Prokofiev Dance of the Knights (from Romeo and Juliet) ...... 5:52 it is impossible to achieve more”. National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine, Andrew Mogrelia (conductor) Elgar wrote many marches for various public occasions. His ‘Pomp and 07 Stravinsky The Rite of Spring (excerpt from part 2) ...... 10:44 Circumstance’ marches were (and still are) his most popular while the heavy BRT Philharmonic Orchestra, Alexander Rahbari (conductor) and pompous March of the Mogul Emperors, with its exciting brass writing, 08 Glière Russian Sailors’ Dance (from The Red Poppy) ...... 3:30 is one of his least known. St Petersburg State Symphony Orchestra, Andre Anichanov (conductor) It’s unusual to listen to a single movement of a Symphony by Anton 09 Ginastera Malambo...... 3:12 Bruckner. These monumental works are favourites on compact disc but are Festival Orchestra of Mexico, Enrique Bátiz (conductor) heard less often in the concert hall due to their extreme lengths and exten- 10 Bruckner Scherzo (from Symphony No 9)...... 9:55 sive orchestral forces. The 9th Symphony, despite being unfinished, still Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Georg Tintner (conductor) clocks in at around one hour! The Scherzo is a massive piece with the entire 11 Mussorgsky orch. Ravel The Hut on Fowl’s Legs ...... 3:45 orchestra pounding out a thunderous rhythm. 12 Mussorgsky orch. Ravel The Great Gate of Kiev...... 6:38 (from Pictures at an Exhibition) Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man is scored for brass and percussion Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra, Daniel Nazareth (conductor) but don’t let the absence of the rest of the orchestra put you off: Copland’s percussion writing (including a large gong) has the capacity to seriously damage your speakers (and hearing!). Spanish music is often ‘extreme’ with its abundance of extrovert folk stylings. Orgía by Turina sounds exactly like you would expect it to – all

6 3 Polka from Age of Gold is similarly extrovert (and very brief). Mussorgsky’s CD 2 Gopak is another short but entertaining piece. 01 Elgar March of the Mogul Emperors ...... 3:50 Sibelius’ Finlandia has a strong Russian connection. Written around 1900 as New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, James Judd (conductor) a response to Russia’s invasion of Finland, Finlandia became the patriotic 02 Wagner Entry of the Gods into Valhalla (from Das Rheingold) ...... 7:09 expression of a country suffering under the domination of a foreign power. CSR Symphony Orchestra, Uwe Mund (conductor) It’s a work with a powerful emotional impact that still resonates today. 03 Orff O Fortuna (from Carmina Burana) ...... 2:40 Slovak Philharmonic Chorus, Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, Respighi’s Roman Trilogy is almost incomparably noisy at times. Pines of Stephen Gunzenhauser (conductor) the Appian Way (from The Pines of Rome) has a quiet beginning which 04 Sibelius Finlandia ...... 8:26 depicts a Roman army marching in the distance. This builds to an extraordi- CSR Symphony Orchestra, Kenneth Schermerhorn (conductor) nary and thrilling climax. Epiphany (from Roman Festivals) is an almost 05 Respighi Epiphany (from Roman Festivals) ...... 5:22 outrageous concoction of orchestral mayhem. After completing Roman Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Enrique Bátiz (conductor) Festivals, Respighi noted that “with the present constitution of the orchestra, 06 Prokofiev Dance of the Knights (from Romeo and Juliet) ...... 5:52 it is impossible to achieve more”. National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine, Andrew Mogrelia (conductor) Elgar wrote many marches for various public occasions. His ‘Pomp and 07 Stravinsky The Rite of Spring (excerpt from part 2) ...... 10:44 Circumstance’ marches were (and still are) his most popular while the heavy BRT Philharmonic Orchestra, Alexander Rahbari (conductor) and pompous March of the Mogul Emperors, with its exciting brass writing, 08 Glière Russian Sailors’ Dance (from The Red Poppy) ...... 3:30 is one of his least known. St Petersburg State Symphony Orchestra, Andre Anichanov (conductor) It’s unusual to listen to a single movement of a Symphony by Anton 09 Ginastera Malambo...... 3:12 Bruckner. These monumental works are favourites on compact disc but are Festival Orchestra of Mexico, Enrique Bátiz (conductor) heard less often in the concert hall due to their extreme lengths and exten- 10 Bruckner Scherzo (from Symphony No 9)...... 9:55 sive orchestral forces. The 9th Symphony, despite being unfinished, still Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Georg Tintner (conductor) clocks in at around one hour! The Scherzo is a massive piece with the entire 11 Mussorgsky orch. Ravel The Hut on Fowl’s Legs ...... 3:45 orchestra pounding out a thunderous rhythm. 12 Mussorgsky orch. Ravel The Great Gate of Kiev...... 6:38 (from Pictures at an Exhibition) Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man is scored for brass and percussion Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra, Daniel Nazareth (conductor) but don’t let the absence of the rest of the orchestra put you off: Copland’s percussion writing (including a large gong) has the capacity to seriously damage your speakers (and hearing!). Spanish music is often ‘extreme’ with its abundance of extrovert folk stylings. Orgía by Turina sounds exactly like you would expect it to – all

6 3 What are ‘extreme classics’? years earlier than The Rite of Spring. There’s more conventional melody here but Stravinsky has not forgotten the sonic thrills. Music by the great classical composers is now so often used as background Prokofiev is perhaps best known for his ballet scores and Romeo and Juliet music for meditation, yoga or other relaxing pursuits, that we have forgotten is his most famous. Dance of the Knights, with its ponderous brass, is also just how exciting and dramatic it can be. Extreme Classics redresses the known as ‘Montagues and Capulets’. balance: This 2 CD set contains some of the most spectacular pieces of music ever written. You’ll hear orchestras of over 100 performers, masses of extra What could be more extreme than a ballet featuring around 20 percussion brass and percussion instruments and thundering organs all doing their best instruments replacing the usual strings, woodwind and brass? George to rival the decibel levels of a rock band. However, not all of the pieces on this Anthiel’s Ballet Mécanique shocked audiences when it was first performed in collection are loud all the time. One of the elements that separates classical 1926 but it is now regarded as a 20th century masterpiece. The work is from other musical genres is its contrasts between loud and soft. These scored for glockenspiel, aeroplane propellers, gong, cymbal, large electric composers were experts at using dynamic contrasts to maximum effect! bell, four pianos and various other percussion instruments. Holst’s The Planets almost defines ‘extreme’ on its own; a suite of six pieces The predominately lyrical nature of the first three movements of Saint-Saën’s designed as a musical exploration of the Universe. The Planets was 3rd Symphony does not prepare the listener for the presto-finale: an organ composed in the midst of WW1 and Mars, the Bringer of War is obviously joins the proceedings for the creation of one of the most spine-tingling grand inspired by war time events. Holst uses a large orchestra including some finales of all time. unusual instruments such as tenor tuba and bass oboe. Tchaikovsky is possibly the first composer of ‘extreme classics’. His 1812 Wagner, who imagined a world in which the arts were combined in a new Overture celebrates the victory of the Russian forces over Napoleon and form of music-drama, had to build his own opera house to hold the features a normal symphony orchestra but with the addition of church bells enormous forces he wrote for. We’ve included three of the most popular and canons! highlights from his four-opera ‘Ring Cycle’. Siegfried’s Funeral March, Ride It is no coincidence that there are several other Russian composers on this of the Valkyries and Entry of the Gods into Valhalla feature plenty of collection; the Slavic temperament seems to lend itself to dramatic and brass, huge climaxes and the sort of power chords that would impress a emotional musical expression. Glière’s ballet The Red Poppy glorified the heavy metal fan. Russian Revolution and the ballet’s most famous except Russian Sailors Stravinsky’s ballet The Rite of Spring outraged audiences when it was first Dance is surely one of the most exhilarating works ever composed. Like performed in 1913. Its final ten minutes is an ‘extreme’ evocation of pagan Glière, Khachaturian composed in post-Revolution Russia. His gift for musical life with pounding drums and screeching brass and woodwind. Audiences of imagery also drew him towards ballet and the hugely exciting Sabre Dance a hundred years ago were not used to such cacophony, and the work still has from Gayaneh is one of his most popular works. Shostakovich also wrote the ability to upset people with nervous dispositions today! Stravinsky’s King some very noisy music and we’ve included two such pieces here. The Kastchei’s Infernal Dance (from The Firebird ballet) was composed several Scherzo from the 10th Symphony features a very loud snare drum while the

4 5 What are ‘extreme classics’? years earlier than The Rite of Spring. There’s more conventional melody here but Stravinsky has not forgotten the sonic thrills. Music by the great classical composers is now so often used as background Prokofiev is perhaps best known for his ballet scores and Romeo and Juliet music for meditation, yoga or other relaxing pursuits, that we have forgotten is his most famous. Dance of the Knights, with its ponderous brass, is also just how exciting and dramatic it can be. Extreme Classics redresses the known as ‘Montagues and Capulets’. balance: This 2 CD set contains some of the most spectacular pieces of music ever written. You’ll hear orchestras of over 100 performers, masses of extra What could be more extreme than a ballet featuring around 20 percussion brass and percussion instruments and thundering organs all doing their best instruments replacing the usual strings, woodwind and brass? George to rival the decibel levels of a rock band. However, not all of the pieces on this Anthiel’s Ballet Mécanique shocked audiences when it was first performed in collection are loud all the time. One of the elements that separates classical 1926 but it is now regarded as a 20th century masterpiece. The work is from other musical genres is its contrasts between loud and soft. These scored for glockenspiel, aeroplane propellers, gong, cymbal, large electric composers were experts at using dynamic contrasts to maximum effect! bell, four pianos and various other percussion instruments. Holst’s The Planets almost defines ‘extreme’ on its own; a suite of six pieces The predominately lyrical nature of the first three movements of Saint-Saën’s designed as a musical exploration of the Universe. The Planets was 3rd Symphony does not prepare the listener for the presto-finale: an organ composed in the midst of WW1 and Mars, the Bringer of War is obviously joins the proceedings for the creation of one of the most spine-tingling grand inspired by war time events. Holst uses a large orchestra including some finales of all time. unusual instruments such as tenor tuba and bass oboe. Tchaikovsky is possibly the first composer of ‘extreme classics’. His 1812 Wagner, who imagined a world in which the arts were combined in a new Overture celebrates the victory of the Russian forces over Napoleon and form of music-drama, had to build his own opera house to hold the features a normal symphony orchestra but with the addition of church bells enormous forces he wrote for. We’ve included three of the most popular and canons! highlights from his four-opera ‘Ring Cycle’. Siegfried’s Funeral March, Ride It is no coincidence that there are several other Russian composers on this of the Valkyries and Entry of the Gods into Valhalla feature plenty of collection; the Slavic temperament seems to lend itself to dramatic and brass, huge climaxes and the sort of power chords that would impress a emotional musical expression. Glière’s ballet The Red Poppy glorified the heavy metal fan. Russian Revolution and the ballet’s most famous except Russian Sailors Stravinsky’s ballet The Rite of Spring outraged audiences when it was first Dance is surely one of the most exhilarating works ever composed. Like performed in 1913. Its final ten minutes is an ‘extreme’ evocation of pagan Glière, Khachaturian composed in post-Revolution Russia. His gift for musical life with pounding drums and screeching brass and woodwind. Audiences of imagery also drew him towards ballet and the hugely exciting Sabre Dance a hundred years ago were not used to such cacophony, and the work still has from Gayaneh is one of his most popular works. Shostakovich also wrote the ability to upset people with nervous dispositions today! Stravinsky’s King some very noisy music and we’ve included two such pieces here. The Kastchei’s Infernal Dance (from The Firebird ballet) was composed several Scherzo from the 10th Symphony features a very loud snare drum while the

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