Livia Teodorescu-Ciocănea: Orchestral Music
These three works by the Romanian composer Livia Teodorescu-Ciocănea (b. 1959) show her approach to three of the central genres of the western classical tradition: symphony, concerto and cantata. The powerful and programmatic Archimedes Symphony was inspired by the death of Archimedes in the siege of Syracuse in 214 BC; the Rite for Enchanting the Air – a concerto for various flutes and orchestra – is a kind of magical journey into a dizzying world of sound and colour; and the cantata Mysterium tremendum aims to reconcile Byzantine and Catholic liturgical traditions. All three make clear her fascination with orchestral timbre and texture – and have distant roots in Romanian folk-music.
Pierre-Yves Artaud, flutes (Tracks 5–8
Antonela Barnat, mezzo-soprano (Tracks 9–12)
Romanian Radio National Orchestra (Tracks 1–8)
Radio Romania Chamber Orchestra (Tracks 9–12)
Valentin Doni (Tracks 1–4)
Alan Tongue (Tracks 5–8)
Cristian Oroșanu (Tracks 9–12), conductors
Listen To This Recording:
- I The Assault on Syracuse –
- II Noli tangere circulos meos (Do not touch my circles) –
- III The Burning Mirrors of Archimedes –
- IV Elegy at the Tomb of Archimedes – The Sphere and the Cylinder
- I Largo –
- II Mosso agitato –
- III Più mosso –
- IV Adagio
- I The Hymn of the Cherubim
- II The Gospel of Matthew
- III Dies Irae
- IV Recordare
Archimedes Symphony (2006–11)
Rite for Enchanting the Air – Concerto for Flute(s) and Orchestra (1998)
Mysterium tremendum – cantata for mezzo-soprano and orchestra (2016)
FIRST RECORDINGS, LIVE
MusicWeb International :
‘This new release deserves to enhance Teodorescu-Ciocănea’s reputation and bring it before a wider public. The Mysterium, in particular, would be a striking addition to any concert season. The recording quality is first rate and the performances whilst hardly spectacular do an efficient job of bringing these imaginative scores to life.’
—David McDade, MusicWeb International
The Absolute Sound :
‘Best classical album of 2023
there is nothing wrong with the old classical chestnuts, but it always rewarding to be surprised by something novel, either from a living composer or a forgotten master from the time past. […] the boldly daring symphony of Livia Teodorescu-Ciocănea […] [is] new.’
—Peter Burwasser, The Absolute Sound Jan 2024
Peter Burwasser :
‘Want List for Peter Burwasser [2023]
The music of Livia Teodorescu-Ciocănea seems to combine both [intimate and ethereal/operatic and heaven-storming] of these inspirations, at times bold and even histrionic, but also whispery and mysterious. Her Archimedes Symphony is a major addition to the contemporary symphonic repertoire.’
—Peter Burwasser, Fanfare Magazine, Nov/Dec 2023