Monday, February 13, 2012

Korngold: Symphony Op. 40 - DePreist

Erich Wolfgang Korngold
Symphony Op. 40 in F-Sharp Major
"The Sea Hawk" (Main Title - Reunion - Finale)

The Oregon Symphony
James DePreist
Delos 3234 - 1998


This great masterpiece of the symphonic repertoire is becoming increasingly popular in recent years. Much overdue, considering this large scale work was composed by the great Austrian Maestro in 1952 and it was only premiered 20 years on by Rudolf Kempe in Munich.

Dimitri Mitropoulos loved it, and so did many outstanding conductors in the last decades. What I find extraordinary about the Symphony is Korngold's peculiar style, which makes for a true late-romantic symphonic classic of the last century, alongside Prokofiev's 5th, Shostakovich's 5th, 7th and 10th, Honegger's 3rd, Stravinsky's Psalms symphony and so on...

The Brucknerian Adagio - dedicated to the memory of the late F.D. Roosevelt - is a marvel in itself, of mind-blowing depth at first hearing.

Of the many recordings available for this masterpiece, I present here my favourite, with the distinguished James DePreist leading his superb Portland ensemble in a most moving and virtuosic performance.

In addition, please enjoy the short Sea Hawk suite, probably Korngold's most succesful score as a film music composer.

FLACs & Cover

No comments:

Post a Comment