subscribe! - La Scena Musicale
subscribe! - La Scena Musicale subscribe! - La Scena Musicale
variations ON A THEME Looking for a change from your go-to classics? Take a cue from the LSM team as we recommend listening alternatives to the usual masterworks. THE MASTERWORK: Hector Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique, Op. 40 Eighteen-thirty saw a great upheaval with France’s July Revolution. That same year, French composer Hector Berlioz (1803- 1869) won the Prix de Rome, a prestigious prize that financed an artist’s studies for five years. He also completed his Symphonie fantastique. Inspired by literary works of Thomas de Quincey (Confessions of an Opium Eater) and Victor Hugo (Le Dernier Jour d’un Condamné), this programmatic work uses many compositional devices to tell Berlioz’s own story of hopeless love through music. His use of an idée fixe, a technique used to transform themes to tell a story, express a mood or idea, effectively unites the five-movement work. Here, the idée fixe represents the lover of a composer. In a drug-induced state, the composer dreams that he has killed the object of his affection to then be decapitated at the end of the fourth movement. Drama ensues and dreams turn to nightmares in the fifth movement, the Dream of a Witches’ Sabbath. Deep church bells and the Gregorian chant Dies irae (Day of Wrath) add to an increasing sense of dread. A masterful orchestrator, Berlioz’s command of instrumental colours and textures paints scenes of joy, wistfulness, solitude, and frenzy. His Symphonie fantastique is a feast for the ears and imagination. LAURA BATES Alexandre Lazaridès’ ESSENTIAL SYMPHONIE FANTASTIQUE Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique op. 14 New York Philharmonic/Leonard Bernstein Sony SMK 60968 (69 min 13 s) The “Fantastique” has been recorded often, and by big names at that. Leonard Bernstein’s recording of May 27, 1963 does not demonstrate a talent for colours like the European conductors who were part of a certain tradition; however, it has movement, passion, life, and a March to the Scaffold that will make you shiver. He ignites his orchestra, his direction then at its peak, and convinces us every time. Furthermore, the sound recording is a remarkable. FRÉDÉRIC CARDIN RECOMMENDS... Ernest Chausson (1855-1899) Symphony No. 1 Composed between 1889-1890 Similarities: a French symphony French, of course, but with an expansive romantic character that is fiery at times. A rich and sumptuous orchestration coloured with lyricism. A child of Berlioz no doubt. Differences: the symphony is written in only three movements and does not use the scheme of the idée fixe, so fundamental in the Fantastique. The chromatic harmony also approaches the German symphonic style. ESSENTIAL LISTENING: French Symphonies Orchestre philharmonique de Radio France/Marek Janowski Virgin Classics 61513 (2CD, 1998) ÉRIC CHAMPAGNE RECOMMENDS… Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943) Symphonic Dances, Op. 45 Composed in 1943 Similarities: Berlioz quotes the Dies irae theme in the Dream of a Witches’ Sabbath, the infernal bacchanal that ends his Symphonie fantastique. Rachmaninoff quotes the Dies irae theme in several works including his Symphonic Dances, where it appears in a finale that is close to the frenzied romanticism of Berlioz. Differences: While Berlioz’s Dies irae assumes gloomy and whimsical colours, the Rachmaninoff recalls the eternal struggle of Eros and Thanatos. The allusion that death lurks in a dance movement full of life confronts the desire for life and death in a paradoxical delight: tragic and exhilarating, deeply romantic. ESSENTIAL LISTENING: Rachmaninoff: The Symphonies Concertgebouw Orchestra/ Vladimir Ashkenazy Decca 455 798-2 (1998) PAUL E. ROBINSON RECOMMENDS… Hector Berlioz (1913-1976) La Mort de Cléopâtre Composed in 1829 Similarities: Berlioz (literally) wrote the book on orchestration and the Symphonie fantastique is full of instrumental novelties (e.g. two sets of timpani, e-flat clarinet, orchestral bells, col legno effects, etc.). La mort de Cléopâtre is equally startling for the period. Differences: As Cleopatra is fatally bitten by the snake Berlioz has the two flutists switch to piccolos for the only time in the symphony—to play four notes fortissimo! Equally original is the depiction of death in the final pages. The double basses (no doubling with cellos!) play the same 2-note figure no fewer than 128 times in succession. The effect is truly hypnotic and otherworldly. ESSENTIAL LISTENING: Berlioz: La Mort de Cléopâtre/Symphonie fantastique Susan Graham, mezzo-soprano; Berlin Philharmonic/Simon Rattle EMI Classics 5 099921 622403 (2008) Hear Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique LIVE in concert: • Royal Philharmonic Orchestra & the National Arts Centre Orchestra/Zukerman in Ottawa; January, 17 2012. www.nac-cna.ca • Orchestre symphonique de Montréal/Nagano; in Montreal: March 27, 29 & 31, 2012. In Quebec City: March 28, 2012. www.osm.ca TRANSLATION: LAURA BATES 46 DECEMBER 2011 / JANUARY 2012
GIFT IDEA! Puccini 150 15 years $15 (TAXES INCLUDED)* Order this and other CDs from the LSM Store: www.scena.org or at Delphi Variété, 221 Fairmount O, Montréal * shipping extra SUBSCRIBE! NOW! ✔ Discover the NEW La Scena Musicale: separate English & French editions Subscribe now and receive a second subscription for half price. For new subscribers only. Cannot be combined with other promotions. YES! VERSION FRANÇAISE __ ENGLISH VERSION __ NAME: I want to subscribe for one year at only $42 ___ Two years for $77 ___ $_____ DONATION SM17-4 YOUR SUBSCRIPTION INCLUDES: » La Scena Musicale / La SCENA (10 editions) »10 Discovery CDs » Access to the online Naxos Music Library (more than 700,000 music tracks and 50,000 CDs) » Eligibility for prize draws during the year Charitable OrganizationNo.: 141996579 RR0001 E-MAIL: www.scena.org CASH INCLUDED VISA MASTERCARD AMEX ADRESS: CREDIT CARD NUMBER EXPIRATION DATE CITY: PROV.: ✔ NAME: ADDRESS: CITY: YES! POSTAL CODE: 2 nd SUBSCRIPTION SUBSCRIBE MY FRIEND FOR HALF PRICE! SM17-4 SEND THIS COUPON TO : VERSION FRANÇAISE __ ENGLISH VERSION __ PROVINCE: E-MAIL: LA SCENA MUSICALE 5409 WAVERLY, MONTREAL, QC H2T 2X8 50% POSTAL CODE:
- Page 2 and 3: CONTENTS DECEMBER 2011 — JANUARY
- Page 4 and 5: y CAROLINE RODGERS PHOTOS OF ANA SO
- Page 6 and 7: ON THE COVER SVADBA PHOTOS John Lau
- Page 8 and 9: N TES by CRYSTAL CHAN, REBECCA ANNE
- Page 10 and 11: discovery cd Transposing Tradition
- Page 12 and 13: PORTRAIT ALEXANDRE DA COSTA A passi
- Page 14 and 15: MUSICULTURE to create music for a f
- Page 16 and 17: MUSICULTURE IN MEMORIAM Maryvonne K
- Page 18 and 19: PHOTO Philippe Jasmin PORTRAIT NÉZ
- Page 20 and 21: OPERA HIROMI OMURA will play Leonor
- Page 22 and 23: PORTRAIT LAN TUNG Taiwanese-born er
- Page 24 and 25: CONCERT Previews by RENÉE BANVILLE
- Page 26 and 27: PREVIEWS A GREAT LIEDER PERFORMER A
- Page 28 and 29: 2011 DECEMBER in QUEBEC TO LIST YOU
- Page 30 and 31: TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY S
- Page 32 and 33: PREVIEWS Elsewhere in QUEBEC OPERA
- Page 34 and 35: Mozart: Don Giovanni. McGill S.O.;
- Page 36 and 37: SALUTE TO VIENNA Salute to Vienna b
- Page 38 and 39: jazz Jazz is particularly fond of h
- Page 40 and 41: JAZZ REVIEWS News from Europe Dutch
- Page 42 and 43: REVIEWS » cds • dvds• books A
- Page 44 and 45: REVIEWS CDs they had already record
- Page 48 and 49: CONTEST CIOC Pipe dream turned real
- Page 50 and 51: ARTS THIS WINTER ΩDance by TAO FEI
- Page 52 and 53: ARTS THIS WINTER Visual Arts by JUL
- Page 54 and 55: ADISQ 2011 NOMINATION ALBUM OF THE
GIFT IDEA!<br />
Puccini 150<br />
15 years<br />
$15<br />
(TAXES INCLUDED)*<br />
Order this and other CDs from<br />
the LSM Store: www.scena.org<br />
or at Delphi Variété,<br />
221 Fairmount O, Montréal<br />
* shipping extra<br />
<br />
<br />
SUBSCRIBE! NOW!<br />
✔<br />
Discover the NEW <strong>La</strong> <strong>Scena</strong> <strong>Musicale</strong>:<br />
separate English & French editions<br />
Subscribe now and<br />
receive a second<br />
subscription for<br />
half price.<br />
For new <strong>subscribe</strong>rs only.<br />
Cannot be combined with<br />
other promotions.<br />
YES!<br />
VERSION FRANÇAISE __ ENGLISH VERSION __<br />
NAME:<br />
I want to <strong>subscribe</strong><br />
for one year at only $42 ___<br />
Two years for $77 ___<br />
$_____ DONATION<br />
SM17-4<br />
YOUR SUBSCRIPTION INCLUDES:<br />
» <strong>La</strong> <strong>Scena</strong> <strong>Musicale</strong> /<br />
<strong>La</strong> SCENA (10 editions)<br />
»10 Discovery CDs<br />
» Access to the online Naxos Music<br />
Library (more than 700,000 music<br />
tracks and 50,000 CDs)<br />
» Eligibility for prize draws<br />
during the year<br />
Charitable OrganizationNo.: 141996579 RR0001<br />
E-MAIL:<br />
www.scena.org<br />
CASH INCLUDED VISA MASTERCARD<br />
AMEX<br />
ADRESS:<br />
CREDIT CARD NUMBER<br />
EXPIRATION DATE<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
CITY:<br />
PROV.:<br />
✔<br />
NAME:<br />
ADDRESS:<br />
CITY:<br />
YES!<br />
POSTAL CODE:<br />
2 nd SUBSCRIPTION<br />
SUBSCRIBE MY FRIEND<br />
FOR HALF PRICE!<br />
SM17-4<br />
SEND THIS COUPON TO :<br />
VERSION FRANÇAISE __<br />
ENGLISH VERSION __<br />
PROVINCE:<br />
E-MAIL:<br />
LA SCENA MUSICALE<br />
5409 WAVERLY, MONTREAL, QC<br />
H2T 2X8<br />
50%<br />
POSTAL CODE:
Change language