Stravinsky - The Soldier’s Tale
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Label: Linn
Cat No: CKD552
Format: CD
Number of Discs: 1
Release Date: 24th March 2017
Contents
Works
Chorale from a Toy Shop (2016 version for strings)Chorale from a Toy Shop (2016 version for winds)
Tombeau: in memoriam Igor Stravinsky
Canon ad honorem Igor Stravinsky (arr. Knussen)
Canon in memoriam Igor Stravinsky
Double Canon 'In memoriam Raoul Dufy'
Epitaphium fur das Grabmal des Prinzen Max Egon zu Furstenberg
Fanfare for a New Theatre
The Soldier's Tale (L'Histoire du Soldat)
Artists
Harriet WalterHarrison Birtwistle
George Benjamin
Royal Academy of Music Manson Ensemble
Conductor
Oliver KnussenWorks
Chorale from a Toy Shop (2016 version for strings)Chorale from a Toy Shop (2016 version for winds)
Tombeau: in memoriam Igor Stravinsky
Canon ad honorem Igor Stravinsky (arr. Knussen)
Canon in memoriam Igor Stravinsky
Double Canon 'In memoriam Raoul Dufy'
Epitaphium fur das Grabmal des Prinzen Max Egon zu Furstenberg
Fanfare for a New Theatre
The Soldier's Tale (L'Histoire du Soldat)
Artists
Harriet WalterHarrison Birtwistle
George Benjamin
Royal Academy of Music Manson Ensemble
Conductor
Oliver KnussenAbout
For his debut recording with Linn, conductor Oliver Knussen has assembled an impressive cast of contemporary composers for The Soldier’s Tale: Harrison Birtwistle as the soldier and George Benjamin as the Devil, with actress Dame Harriet Walter as the narrator.
The longest work on this disc, The Soldier’s Tale mixes fiendishly difficult changes of time signature with Stravinsky’s newly discovered love of jazz with melodies which echo his larger pre-war scores. It is also a work that demonstrates immense clarity and moving simplicity at times, and a sardonic wit at others. With such a starry cast this recording will be of particular interest to those with an interest in contemporary music, especially considering the addition of two new Birtwistle world premiere versions of Chorale from a Toy Shop written specially for the recording.
The rest of the programme includes an exquisite Knussen arrangement of Maxwell Davies’s Canon ad honorem Igor Stravinsky, intermixed with Stravinsky’s own late commemorative miniatures.
One of the pre-eminent composer-conductors in the world today, Oliver Knussen CBE is presently Sir Richard Rodney Bennett Professor of Music at the Royal Academy of Music. The recipient of many honours and awards, including the Nemmers Prize in 2006 and the RPS Conductor Award in 2009, he has served as Artistic Director of the Aldeburgh Festival (1983–98), Head of Contemporary Music at the Tanglewood Music Center (1986–93), Principal Guest Conductor of the Hague Residentie Orchestra (1993–97), Music Director of the London Sinfonietta (1998–2002) and Artist-in-Association with the BBC Symphony Orchestra (2009–14). In 2012 his sixtieth birthday was celebrated with special events in Aldeburgh, Amsterdam, Birmingham, London and Tanglewood and he has recorded more than fifty CDs for labels including Deutsche Grammophon, Decca, Virgin and NMC.
‘…seriously impressive playing from students of the Royal Academy of Music... the ensemble sound is elegant and refined.’ - The Guardian
‘From the podium it was given clear direction and guided by Knussen’s equally keen ear.’ - BachTrack
‘Knussen obtained tight ensemble here in a performance of real tenderness.’ - The Telegraph
Sound/Video
Paused
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1Stravinsky - Prelude for a New Theatre
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2Maxwell Davies (arr Knussen) - Canon ad honorem Igor Stravinsky
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3Birtwistle - Chorale from a Toy Shop for Igor Stravinsky (2016 version for winds)
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4Birtwistle - Chorale from a Toy Shop for Igor Stravinsky (2016 version for strings)
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5Stravinsky - The Soldier's Tale: Part One - Introduction: The Soldier's March
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6Stravinsky - The Soldier's Tale: Part One - Music for Scene 1: Airs by a Stream
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7Stravinsky - The Soldier's Tale: Part One - The Soldier's March (reprise)
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8Stravinsky - The Soldier's Tale: Part One - Music for Scene 2: Pastorale
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9Stravinsky - The Soldier's Tale: Part One - Music for the End of Scene 2
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10Stravinsky - The Soldier's Tale: Part One - Airs by a Stream (reprise)
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11Stravinsky - The Soldier's Tale: Part One - Music for Scene 3: Airs by a Stream (reprise)
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12Stravinsky - The Soldier's Tale: Part Two - The Solider's March (reprise)
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13Stravinsky - The Soldier's Tale: Part Two - Royal March
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14Stravinsky - The Soldier's Tale: Part Two - Little Concert
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15Stravinsky - The Soldier's Tale: Part Two - Three Dances: No.1 Tango
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16Stravinsky - The Soldier's Tale: Part Two - Three Dances: No.2 Waltz
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17Stravinsky - The Soldier's Tale: Part Two - Three Dances: No.3 Ragtime
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18Stravinsky - The Soldier's Tale: Part Two - The Devil's Dance
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19Stravinsky - The Soldier's Tale: Part Two - Little Chorale
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20Stravinsky - The Soldier's Tale: Part Two - The Devil's Song
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21Stravinsky - The Soldier's Tale: Part Two - Great Chorale
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22Stravinsky - The Soldier's Tale: Part Two - Triumphal March of the Devil
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23Stravinsky - Double Canon (Raoul Dufy in memoriam)
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24Stravinsky - Epitaphium fur das Grabmal des Prinzen Max Egon zu Furstenberg
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25Birtwistle - Tombeau - in memoriam Igor Stravinsky
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26Maxwell Davies - Canon in memoriam Igor Stravinsky
Europadisc Review
The RAM’s excellent contemporary music group, the Manson Ensemble shine brilliantly in their recording debut, bringing out all the spikiness and wit of Stravinsky’s score. They seem to revel in the physicality of the dance movements (including the celebrated Tango, Waltz and Ragtime), while the moments of reflection are played with the greatest sensitivity and careful dynamic control. Knussen keeps rhythms buoyant, and special mention must be made of Eleanor Corr’s supremely agile violin playing, as well as Christopher Hart on cornet and Jacob Brown, wonderfully alert on the varied percussion. Rarely has Stravinsky’s septet scoring sounded so alive, responsive and daring as this: add in the celebrity cast and Linn have a sure-fire winner.
If that isn’t enough to whet your appetite, the Tale is imaginatively framed by miniatures from Stravinsky, Davies and Birtwistle. Acting as a prelude is a group of celebratory pieces by or for Stravinsky: his brief, arresting Fanfare for a New Theatre for two trumpets (1964); Knussen’s marvellously delicate arrangement of Davies’s Canon ad honorem Igor Stravinsky of 1967; and Birtwistle’s solemn but subtly complex Chorale from a Toy Shop, likewise composed for Stravinsky’s eighty-fifth birthday and now updated by Birtwistle in versions for winds and strings.
After the Tale, as it were reflecting on the Soldier’s ultimate demise, are four treasurable commemorative miniatures, once again by or for Stravinsky. His bleak Double Canon in memory of Raoul Dufy is followed by his Epitaphium for Prince Max Egon zu Fürstenberg, exquisite modernist gems both composed in 1959. Finally, a pair of works written for the Stravinsky memorial issue of Tempo magazine in 1971: Birtwistle’s melancholic Tombeau – in memoriam Igor Stravinsky and Davies’s enigmatic Canon in memoriam Igor Stravinsky, in which serial technique melds with plainsong-like fragments. All are superbly shaped and shaded by Knussen and the Manson Ensemble musicians, acting as a double tribute to both Stravinsky and Davies.
The programme of the disc as a whole is hugely satisfying, engagingly presented and performed. As the centenary of The Soldier’s Tale approaches, this new account goes straight to the top of the pile for those wanting the complete work in English, for the sheer quality of both performance and couplings, a dazzling account of a modern classic.
Reviews
Oliver Knussen conducts the young virtuoso Royal Academy of Music Manson Ensemble. Cleverly chosen miniatures by Stravinsky, Birtwistle and Maxwell Davies make up the fillers. Richard Fairman
The complementary, commemorative shorter pieces, including two Birtwistle items written expressly for the recording, are as exquisitely turned as might be expected from this source. They are almost all designedly cool. Not that there’s any lack of joie de vivre in the main work. No complaints about the intimate, vivid sound, nor the entertaining producer’s note from Jonathan Freeman-Attwood. ... Anyone who knows Knussen’s magical disc of seemingly intractable late Stravinsky (DG, 10/95) or his unbeatable Fairy’s Kiss (DG, 11/97) will want this one too. David Gutman
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