Henze, Hans Werner (1926-2012) - Heliogabalus Imperator -Works for Orchestra : Oliver Knussen / BBC Symphony Orchestra, Anssi Karttunen(Vc) - Import CD

Credits:

Henze, Hans Werner (1926-2012)

Description:

A memorial disc for the famous contemporary music conductor Oliver Nassen, including world premiere recordings and his last works, a collection of orchestral works in the Henze style in full bloom, and a super high level of performance by Nassen, who was trusted by composers! The conductor Oliver Nassen, who sadly passed away in 2018, was a specialist in contemporary music who was also active as a composer. When Henze heard his own works and those of other composers conducted by him, he was struck by their excellence and greatly admired them. This album features orchestral works from Henze's middle and late period, conducted by Nassen. Emperor Heliogabalus" and "English Love Songs" are rare and unrecorded. The Overture for the Theater was written in Henze's final years, and it is remarkable to hear Nassen's meticulous performance of each piece, as he had a strong relationship of trust with the composer. Inspired by Goya's etching of the same name, "Los Caprichos" consists of an introduction, theme, and seven variations, each of the nine sections bearing the title of a Goya painting. In his musical depiction of Goya's grotesque and satirical series of works, Henze dares to suppress modern special techniques and opts for a fantastical, melancholy, and beautiful sound.It has a magical worldview, with some melodies that seem to sing. Emperor Heliogabalus" is a 30-minute orchestral work named after Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus, the worst monarch in Roman history. The music depicts the life and death of the tyrant, and the percussion instruments play an active role. The sudden appearance of a terrifying darkness is also impressive. English Love Songs" is in the form of a cello concerto, and was originally premiered under the title "Seven Love Songs," with Heinrich Schiff playing solo. It was based on an English poem, but at the time of its premiere Henze did not specify to whom or to what poem it was attributed. Later, it was modified and settled in the form of this CD. Kalttunen, who plays the cello, is a Finnish virtuoso who has worked on many contemporary pieces, and his wide-range and flexible playing accurately conveys the appeal of the music. The Overture for the Theater was written as a commission for the 100th anniversary of the Deutsche Oper Berlin, and was the last work to be performed by Henze, who died shortly after the premiere.The music is full of Henze's best qualities, with its lively ideas, rushing and powerful allegro, and joyful and daring orchestration, and is struck by his creative drive that did not slow down even in his last years of life. King International

Tracklisting:

1.Nobody knows one's own self
2.Birds of a feather flock together
3.The sleep of reason gives birth to monsters
4.Who is more devoted
5.She says "yes", stretching out her hand to the first man who comes along
6.Of which illness will he die?
7.That dust...
8.There was no way out
9.Beautiful mistress!
10.Heliogabalus imperator, musical allegory for orchestra
11.Canzona, for for oboe, piano, harp, 3 violins & cello (on material from opera "The English Cat")
12.Ouverture zu einem Theater, for orchestra