Moritz MOSZKOWSKI: Orchestral Music, Volume One
The Polish composer Moritz Moszkowski (1854–1925) is best remembered for a handful of virtuoso piano pieces, but he also produced a substantial body of orchestral music, most of it unperformed for decades. Astonishingly, he was only in his early twenties when he wrote his monumental ‘Symphonic Poem in Four Movements’ Johanna d’Arc – heard here in its first recording – a vast symphonic fresco depicting the life, death and transfiguration of the heroine of Friedrich Schiller’s 1801 play, Die Jungfrau von Orleans. Moszkowski admitted to the influence of Wagner and Raff on the work – but he also managed to prefigure the musical language of the Hollywood epics of sixty years later.
Sinfonia Varsovia
Jakub Haufa, solo violin (Tracks 1, 4)
Ian Hobson, conductor
A Diaposon découverte
Listen To This Recording:
-
Johanna d’Arc: Symphonic Poem in Four Movements, Op. 19 (1875–76)
- I Allegro commodo
- II Andante malinconico
- III Molto moderato
- IV Allegro molto
FIRST RECORDING
Diapason :
“a vividly narrative score, at times nearly “cinematic” before its time. … Certain passages are highly evocative, such as Joan’s vision, which the composer entrusts to the solo violin and to the harp in the pastorale of the first part. … one must appreciate its generously overflowing lyricism. Let it not be said that Schiller inspired only Verdi and Tchaikovsky! Ian Hobson’s conducting avoids bombast; it breathes new life into the fresco by preserving its drama and cohesiveness and restoring its vibrant colors. A promising discovery, this is the first volume in a series of Moszkowski’s orchestral music.” —Didier Van Moere, Diapason (Diapason découverte awards)
MusicWeb International :
‘There’s much to like in this well-drilled and responsive reading. It offers a different slant on a composer whose posthumous reputation is that of piano pot-pourris.’
—Jonathan Woolf, MusicWeb International
The Ultimate Classical Guide :
‘There are exquisitely beautiful moments. there really are. […] Wonderful tunes, that shows that shows that Moszkowski was a composer to be reckoned with. […] [The third movements] is just a really cool march movement. It’s exciting, it’s well-written, it’s very tuneful, very enjoyable. […]
There’s a wonderful opening [in the last movement]. […] and then there is this fabulous fife and drum music […] honest to goodness, realty terrific fife and drum thing which is quite startling. […]
This is a real find, this piece, it REALLY is! […] I’m extremely happy to have encountered this piece. I think Moszkowski is going to be an orchestral composer worth listening to[…]
I look forward to talking about Moszkowski’s extremely intriguing orchestral output. I’m very grateful to Toccata Classics for putting together this initial release. It’s an ambitious and very worthwhile endeavour and it deserves your support.’
—David Hurwitz, The Ultimate Classical Guide