Episode 411. Orchestral Song [International Edition]
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An old LP of Tōru Takemitsu’s Coral Island and a conversation with a new friend about American Exceptionalism inspired today’s episode, the “International Edition” of my ongoing series on Orchestral Song. Coral Island is still here, although I ended up using a later (and better) recording than the one in my collection. I also feature the work of composers Karol Szymanowski, Augustyn Bloch, Aminollah Hossein, Kaija Saariaho, Frederic Mompou, Ottorino Respighi, Fartein Valen, Bohuslav Martinů, and many others, performed by Gerald Finley, Andréa Guiot, Robert Tear, Dorothy Dorow, Halina Łukomska, Victoria de los Ángeles, Andrzej Hiolski, Bernard Kruysen, and Marianne Crebassa, for starters! I have been enjoying so much preparing these recent “potpourri” episodes, and this one is particularly chock full of surprises and discoveries!
RECORDINGS HEARD IN THIS EPISODE
Karol Szymanowski, Jarosław Iwaszkiewicz: Allah, Allah Akbar, Allah! (Pieśni muezina szalonego [Songs of the Infatuated Muezzin], Op. 42-1). Ryszard Minkiewicz, Karol Stryja, Polish State Philharmonic Orchestra, Katowice [1991]
Aminollah Hossein, Saadi Shirazi: Caravan. Andréa Guiot, Jean-Claude Hartemann, Orchestre National de Monte Carlo [unknown date]
Bohuslav Martinů, anonymous Japanese text translated by Emanuel Lešehrad: Prosněný život [Life in Dreams] (Nipponari, H 68/4). Dagmar Pecková, Jiří Bělohlávek, Prague Symphony Orchestra [1991]
Tōru Takemitsu, Makota Ohka: Poem I (Coral Island) [1962]. Rie Hamada, Yuzo Toyama, Members of the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra [1998]
Othmar Schoeck, Gottfried Keller: Und wieder schlägt’s – ein Viertel erst (Lebendig begraben, Op. 40/14). Günter von Kannen, Ralf Weikert, Orchester und Chor der Oper Zürich [1986]
Kaija Saariaho, text after Ralph Waldo Emerson: Proposition II (True Fire). Gerald Finley, Hannu Lintu, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra [2019]
Fartein Valen, Walt Whitman: Darest thou now, O Soul, Op. 9. Dorothy Dorow, Militiades Caridis, Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra [1972]
Einojuhani Rautavaara, William Shakespeare: That Time of Year (Three Sonnets of Shakespeare, No. 1). Gabriel Suovanen, Leif Segerstam, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra [2006]
Augustyn Bloch, William Wordsworth [translated Stanisław Kryński]: Byl czas [There was a time] (Wordsworth Songs). Andrzej Hiolski, Jerzy Maksumiuk, Polish Chamber Orchestra [1976]
Kazimierz Serocki, Julian Przyboś: Spotkanie (Oczy Powietrza [Eyes of Air], No. 1). Halina Łukomska, Andrzej Markowski, Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra [1967]
Xavier Montsalvatge, Rafael Merello: Cuba dentro de un piano (Cinco canciones negras, No. 1). Victoria de los Ángeles, Rafael Frühbeck De Burgos, Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire [1962]
Joaquín Turina, José Muñoz San Román: La Giralda (Canto a Sevilla, Op. 37/4). Pilar Lorengar, Jesús López-Cobos, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande [1984]
Frederic Mompou, Josep Janés: Damunt de tu només les flors (Combat del somni). Marianne Crebassa, Ben Glassberg, Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse [2021]
Ottorino Respighi, Antonio Rubino: Crepuscolo (Deità silvane, P.107/5). Robert Tear, László Heltay, Argo Chamber Orchestra [1978]
Alexander Zemlinsky, Rabindranath Tagore [German translation by Zemlinsky]: Friede, mein Herz (Lyrische Symphonie, Op. 18/7). Bernard Kruysen, Zoltan Pesko, Hague Philharmonic Orchestra [live Holland Festival 1974]
