Thomas de Hartmann: Orchestral Music
Born in Ukraine, Thomas de Hartmann (1885–1956), a student of both Arensky and Taneyev, achieved fame as a composer in Russia in the early 1900s, and his concert music was later played by some of the major musicians of the day, primarily in Paris. Since his death, he has been remembered mainly for his association with the Caucasian mystic G. I. Gurdjieff, whom he met in 1916, and his output for the concert hall has fallen into obscurity. The four works receiving their first recordings here reveal a major late-Romantic voice, downstream from Tchaikovsky, contemporary with Rachmaninov, and alert to the discoveries of Stravinsky and Prokofiev
Bülent Evcil, flute (Track 11-13)
Lviv National Philharmonic Orchestra of Ukraine
Theodore Kuchar, conductor
Listen To This Recording:
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Koliadky: Noëls Ukrainiens, Op. 60 (1940)
- I Chant spirituel
- II Viens, Koladá, viens
- III Les rois mages
- IV Les chalumeux des bergers
- V L’arrivée de Koladá
- VI Ovsén
- VII La veille de l’Épiphanie
- VIII Adieu, Koladá
- IX Goussak
- Symphonie-Poème No. 4, Op. 90
- I Entrada y Romanza
- II Juego: Scherzino
- III Cante y Juerga
- I Ouverture
- II Fanfare
- III Allemande
- IV Courante
- V Fanfare et Sarabande
- VI Gavotte
- VII Matradour
- VIII Canari
- IX Incantation et danse du Chamane
- X Nocturne
- XI Danilo Coupor
Symphonie-Poème No. 4, Op. 90 (1955)
Concierto Andaluz for solo flute, strings and percussion, Op. 81 (1949)
Une fête en Ukraine: Suite for Large Orchestra , Op. 62 (1940)
FIRST RECORDINGS
MusicWeb International :
‘The sound is rich and full, and the music-making under the conductor Theodore Kuchar and the Lviv National Philharmonic Orchestra of Ukraine, as well as the excellent flautist Bulent Evcil in the concerto, is as committed and persuasive as anyone could wish for. […] All the music on this disc is highly distinctive and hugely enjoyable. Meantime, the present release is recommended with much enthusiasm as is, at long last, the music of Thomas de Hartmann in general.’
—Lee Denham, MusicWeb International
MusicWeb International :
‘Theodore Kuchar leads the Lviv National Philharmonic Orchestra of Ukraine in confident, stylish performances. Flautist Bülent Evcil sounds alternately poised and relaxed in the Concierto Andaluz. Balances between soloist and orchestra, as well as within the orchestra, are clear, with no details getting lost.’
—Christopher Little, MusicWeb International
MusicWeb International :
‘This is a perfect example of projects which small companies do so well, and which the large multinationals seem to have abandoned. […] On this showing of works from his maturity, he had his own voice and the orchestral mastery to match. Toccata Classics have done us a service. […]
All in all, this most welcome disk will be of considerable interest to those of us who love to investigate the byways of the music of the late 19th and early 20th Century.’
—Jim Westhead, MusicWeb International