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Showing posts with label Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Show all posts
Celebrating the genius of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart with three favourite overtures, six great piano concertos, and his final three symphonies.
This post is inspired by a recent series of performances hosted by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, February 1-10, 2018. The events featured the SSO with pianist Emanuel Ax, Maestro David Robertson, conducting.
I. Dramatic Mozart
Don Giovanni: Overture
Piano Concerto No.14 in E flat, K449
Piano Concerto No.20 in D minor, K466
Symphony No.40
II. Seductive Mozart
Cosi fan tutte: Overture
Piano Concerto No.16 in D, K.451
Piano Concerto No.17 in G, K453
Symphony No.39
III. Magnificent Mozart
The Marriage of Figaro: Overture
Piano Concerto No.19 in F, K.459
Piano Concerto No.27 in B flat, K.595
Symphony No.41 (Jupiter)
Resources:
Booklets, and SSO programs to subscribers. 2018.
Sydney Symphony Orchestra. SSO website. Accessed February 2018.
(c) 2018. Tel Asiado. Inspired Pen Web. All rights reserved.
Film Music / Leonard Bernstein's Symphonic Suite for 'On the Waterfront'
The music score of the multi-Oscar winning film On the Waterfront (starring Marlon Brando), was composed by Leonard Bernstein. It's his only original film score not adapted from a stage production with songs. Bernstein's "Symphonic Suite" is splendidly done with his music representing various themes in the film covering different emotions: violence, love theme, and pained resolution.
Leonard Bernstein (August 25, 1918 -- October 14, 1990), was an American
conductor, composer, author, music lecturer and pianist. The tremendous success of
"West Side Story" remained unequaled by his other compositions. As a composer, he was prolific, writing symphonies, ballet music, chamber music, operas, other orchestral and choral works, chamber music, and incidental music. According to The New York Times, he was
"one of the most prodigiously talented and successful musicians in
American history."
To commemorate the centenary celebration of Leonard Bernstein's birthday, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra (SSO) presented a 3-day performance, "The Bernstein Songbook: A Musical Theatre Celebration", May 10-12, Sydney Opera House Concert Hall. 'On the Waterfront' "Symphonic Suite" was done at the end of Act I, just before the Interval. " Magnificent performance capturing the varied emotions of this multi-awarded film. Artists: John Wilson, Conductor. Lorina Gore, soprano. Kim Criswell, mezzo-soprano, Julian Ovenden, tenor. Sydney Philharmonia Choirs. Mitchell Butel, director.
Video Credit:
Bernstein, L - Symphonic Suite from 'On the Waterfront'. YouTube, uploaded by Sonny Beech. Accessed 17 May 2017. (From the album "New York! New York! Symphonic Dances and Overtures from
Musicals". Performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Conducted by
Carl Davis.
(c) Royal Philharmonic Masterworks)
Tristan und Isolde (Tristan and Isolde, or Tristan and Isolda, or Tristran and Ysolt) is an opera or music drama, in three acts by Richard Wagner to a German libretto by him, based largely on the romance by Gottfried von Strassburg. Composed between 1857 and 1859, it was first performed in Munich on 10 June 1865 with Hans von Bulow conducting. Wagner referred the work not as an opera but called it "Eine Handlung" (literally a drama, a plot or an action).
In 1886, 1st of December, Richard Wagner's opera Tristan and Isolde in its American premiere is enormously successful. Anton Seidl conducted the Metropolitan Opera in the New York opening.
This work by Wagner was inspired by the philosophy of Arthur Schopenhauer, as well as Wagner's affair with Mathilde Wesendonck. Acknowledged as one of the peaks of the operatic repertoire, Tristan und Isolde was notable for Wagner's unprecedented use of chromaticism, orchestral colour, harmonic suspension and tonality, and was enormously influential among Western classical composers.
The Prelude to Act I and Isolde's Liebestod (Love Death) are often performed as concert item.
Below is Act I of Tristan und Isolde performed in 2015 by
the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, with the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs,
conducted by American conductor David Robertson. Christine Brewer (soprano) – Isolde,
Lance Ryan (tenor) – Tristan, Katarina Karnéus (mezzo-soprano) –
Brangäne, Boaz Daniel (baritone) – Kurwenal, Angus Wood (tenor) –
Melot, John Tessier (tenor) – Young Sailor, Shepherd, John Relyea
(bass) – Marke, King of Cornwall, Harrison Collins (baritone) –
Steersman. Tristan und Isolde Act I - SSO. YouTube, uploaded by Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Accessed December 1, 2016.
For those interested: Act II - here, and Act III - here.
Resource:
Tristan und Isolde. en.wikipedia.org. Accessed June 10, 2016.
Sydney Symphony Orchestra performs at Sydney's Domain on its 40th Anniversary with special participation from the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs. Conductor: André de Ridder
16 January, 2016, 8pm, The Domain The Symphony in the Domain is Free!
For the 40th anniversary of Sydney Festival, this year, 2016, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra (SSO) is doing something special for Symphony in the Domain (previously called "Symphony under the Stars"). They've gathered a repertoire of music performed at Symphony in The Domain over the years, with everything from Mendelssohn to Dvorak and Tchaikovsky.
Carols at the House 2014 presented by the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs comprises a 500-strong choir and orchestra singing favourites such as The Twelve Days of Christmas, Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas and other well-known festive carols.
Opera star Emma Matthews joins the Christmas choir to perform songs including "Abigail's Song" from Doctor Who, "Let the Bright Seraphim" and "Ave Maria" - and your Christmas won't be complete without Dr Seuss' The Grinch, read by distinguished actor John Bell.
Celebrating the genius of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart with three favourite overtures, six great piano concertos, and his final three symphonies. 
