Summer Record Review: Andrew McGregor with Mark Lowther. Proms Composer Josef Suk
Andrew McGregor debates a recent reissue of classic recordings by Louis Fremaux and the CBSO on the Warner label with Mark Lowther.
with Andrew McGregor;
0930 Proms Composer: Josef Suk
Andrew explores recordings of music by the Czech composer Josef Suk, whose symphonic poem 'Prague' features in Prom 56. Suk was just 11 when he entered the Prague Conservatory in 1885. He graduated six years later, but stayed on an extra year to study with Dvořák, who came to regard Suk as his most talented pupil. Suk didn't have to wait long for recognition - he wrote some of his best-known music before he was 20 - and he soon came to be regarded as the musical heir to his distinguished teacher, who later also became his father-in-law; Suk married Dvořák's daughter Otilie in 1898. Not surprisingly, Suk's early style is very much rooted in the music of Dvořák, but as he matured and was exposed to the music of the European modernists, his musical language grew more complex and less accessible, even embracing polytonality. His work both as a teacher - he was appointed Professor of Composition at the Prague Conservatory in 1922 - and performer - he played 2nd violin with the Czech (originally Bohemian) Quartet for 40 years - meant that composing could only be a part-time activity, but his compact oeuvre of piano, chamber, choral, vocal and orchestral music contains some real gems.
1030 Andrew talks to Mark Lowther about a recent reissue of classic recordings by Louis Frémaux and the CBSO on the Warner Classics label.
1145
Excerpt from Josef Suk's Piano Quartet in A minor, Op 1
Josef Suk Piano Quartet
Producer Chris Barstow.
Last on
Music Played
-
Leonard Bernstein
7 Anniversaries For Piano
Performer: Andrew Cooperstock.- BRIDGE : 9485A.
- BRIDGE.
- 1.
-
Dmitry Shostakovich
Symphony No. 5 In D Minor Op.47
Orchestra: Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Manfred Honeck.- REFERENCE : FR724.
- Reference.
- 1.
-
Leonard Bernstein
Bridal Suite Part 1
Performer: Andrew Cooperstock.- Complete solo Works for Piano.
- Bridge.
- 13.
-
Josef Suk
Pohadka (Fairy Tale) Op 16 ii. Intermezzo: Swans and Peacocks
Orchestra: Czech Philharmonic. Conductor: Jiří Bělohlávek.- CHANDOS : CHAN9063.
- Chandos.
- 2.
-
Josef Suk
Zal (Sorrow - Ten Songs Op. 15 No. 1)
Performer: Marián Lapšanský. Performer: Daniel Buranovský. Choir: Pražský komorní sbor. Conductor: Josef Pančík.- CHANDOS : CHAN9257.
- CHANDOS.
- 14.
-
Josef Suk
Appassionato (Four Pieces Op. 17 No. 2)
Performer: Josef Suk. Performer: Jan Panenka.- SUPRAPHON : 40752.
- SUPRAPHON.
- 13.
-
Josef Suk
Piano Quintet in G minor Op. 8 - Scherzo: Presto
Orchestra: Nash Ensemble.- HELIOS : CDH 55416.
- Helios.
- 10.
-
Josef Suk
Fantasy In G Minor Op.24
Performer: Josef Suk. Orchestra: Czech Philharmonic. Conductor: Karel Ančerl.- SUPRAPHON : SU-110601-2.
- Supraphon.
- 4.
-
Josef Suk
Asrael (Symphony) In C Minor Op 27
Orchestra: Czech Philharmonic. Conductor: Jiří Bělohlávek.- Chandos : CHAN 9042.
- Chandos.
- 4.
-
Josef Suk
Epilogue Op 37 v. Pilgrim - Bringer of Consolation
Singer: Zora Jehlickova. Singer: Ivan Kusnjer. Singer: Jan Galla. Choir: Prague Philharmonic Choir. Orchestra: Czech Philharmonic. Conductor: Václav Neumann.- Josef Suk.
- Supraphon.
- 5.
-
Johann Sebastian Bach
Komm in mein Herzenhaus / Und wenn die Welt (Cantata no.80)
Singer: Mary Bevan. Choir: Choir of Clare College, Cambridge. Ensemble: Clare Baroque. Conductor: Graham Ross.- Reformation 1517-2017.
- harmonia mundi.
- 5.
-
Felix Mendelssohn
Violin Concerto in E minor Op. 64 (1st mvt)
Performer: Isabelle Faust. Orchestra: Freiburg Baroque Orchestra. Conductor: Pablo Heras‐Casado.- Violin Concerto.
- Harmonia Mundi.
- 1.
-
Richard Wagner
Parsifal - Komm, komm, holder Knabe
Singer: Gundula Janowitz. Singer: Anja Silja. Singer: Else-Margrete Gardelli. Singer: Dorothea Siebert. Singer: Rita Bartos. Singer: Sona Cervena. Singer: Jess Thomas. Orchestra: Bayreuth Festival Orchestra. Conductor: Hans Knappertsbusch.- The Gundula Janowitz Edition.
- Deutsche Grammophon.
- 10.
-
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Porgi, Amor...(Le nozze di Figaro)
Singer: Gundula Janowitz. Orchestra: Orchestra of the German Opera, Berlin. Conductor: Karl Böhm.- The Gundula Janowitz Edition.
- Deutsche Grammophon.
- 12.
-
Richard Strauss
SEPTEMBER (Vier letzte Lieder)
Singer: Gundula Janowitz. Orchestra: Berliner Philharmoniker. Conductor: Herbert von Karajan.- The Gundula Janowitz Edition.
- Deutsche Grammophon.
- 13.
-
William Walton
Façade Suite No.2 - Fanfare
Orchestra: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Louis Frémaux.- WARNER 01902 9588 6738.
- WARNER.
- 1.
-
Giacomo Puccini
When the Stars Are Brightly Shining (Tosca)
Orchestra: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Singer: David Hughes. Conductor: Louis Frémaux.- WARNER 01902 9588 6738.
- WARNER.
- 5.
-
Jules Massenet
Le Cid - Aubade
Orchestra: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Louis Frémaux.- Warner 01902 9588 6738.
- Warner.
- 4.
-
Camille Saint‐Saëns
Symphony No.3 (2nd Movt)
Performer: Christopher Robinson. Orchestra: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Louis Frémaux.- WARNER 01902 9588 6738.
- WARNER.
- 6.
-
John McCabe
Notturni ed Alba
Orchestra: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Singer: Jill Gomez. Conductor: Louis Frémaux.- WARNER 01902 9588 6738.
- WARNER.
- 9.
-
Hector Berlioz
Grande Messe des Morts - Tuba Mirum
Orchestra: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Choir: CBSO Chorus. Conductor: Louis Frémaux.- WARNER 01902 9588 6738.
- WARNER.
- 2.
-
Camille Saint‐Saëns
Cello Concerto No.1
Performer: Paul Tortelier. Orchestra: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Louis Frémaux.- WARNER 01902 9588 6738.
- WARNER.
- 9.
-
William Walton
Te Deum
Performer: Francis Grier. Orchestra: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Choir: CBSO Chorus. Choir: Choristers of Worcester Cathedral. Conductor: Louis Frémaux.- WARNER 01902 9588 6738.
- WARNER.
- 14.
-
Claude Debussy
Prelude a l'Apres-midi d'un Faune
Orchestra: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Louis Frémaux.- WARNER 01902 9588 6738.
- WARNER.
- 8.
-
Josef Suk
Quartet In A Minor Op.1
Ensemble: Josef Suk Piano Quartet.- Dvorak - Suk/ Piano Quartets.
- Supraphon.
- 5.
Record Review
9.00 a.m.
Bernstein: Complete Solo Works for Piano
BERNSTEIN: Anniversaries (7); Anniversaries (4) for piano (1948); Anniversaries (5) for piano (1949-51); Anniversaries (13); Touches - Chorale, Eight Variations and Coda; Piano Sonata; Non troppo presto; Music for the Dance No. 2; Four Sabras; Bridal Suite
COPLAND: (arr: Bernstein) El Salon Mexico
Andrew Cooperstock (piano)
BRIDGE BRIDGE9485A/B (2CD)
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5 & Barber: Adagio for Strings
BARBER: Adagio for Strings Op. 11
SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphony No. 5 in D minor Op. 47
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Manfred Honeck (conductor)
REFERENCE RECORDINGS FR724 (Hybrid SACD)
0930 Proms Composer: Josef Suk
Suk: Fairy Tale/String Serenade
Pohadka (Fairy Tale) Op. 16
Serenade for strings in E flat Op.6
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Jiri Belohlavek (conductor)
CHANDOS CHAN 9063 (CD)
Dvorak: Moravske Drojzpevy (Moravian Duets)
DVORAK: Moravian Duets Op. 32, B. 60 & B. 62
EBEN: Swallows and Maidens
SMETANA: Czech Song Choruses
SUK: Songs (10) Op. 15
Prague Chamber Chorus, Marian Lapsansky (piano), Daniel Buranovsky (piano), Josef Pancik
CHANDOS CHAN9257 (CD)
Suk: Early Recordings
CD1:
DVORAK: Romantic Pieces for Violin and Piano, Op. 75 (B 150)
Sonatina for Violin and Piano in G major, Op. 100 (B 183)
Sonata for Violin and Piano in F major, Op. 57 (B106)
SUK: Four Pieces for Violin and Piano, Op 17
CD2:
JANACEK: Sonata for Violin and Piano
SMETANA: From the Homeland
JEZEK: Sonata for Violin and Piano
MARTINU: Duo for violin and Cello No. 1 H157
Duo for Cello and Violin No 2, H371
CD3:
GRIEG: Sonata for Violin and Piano No.3 in C minor, Op.45
SCHUMANN: Evening Song for Violin and Piano, Op.85, No.12
RESPIGHI: Sonata for Violin and Piano in B minor (1917)
BRAHMS: Sonata for Violin and Piano No.1 in G major, Op. 78
Valse for Violin and Piano in A major, Op. 39 No. 15
CD4:
BRAHMS: Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 2 in A major, Op. 100
Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 3 in D minor, Op. 108
SCHUBERT: Sonatina for Violin and Piano in D major, Op. 137 No.1
Duo for Violin and Piano in A major, Op. 162
CD5:
DEBUSSY: Sonata for Violin and Piano
Clair de lune for Violin and Piano
La plus que lente
POULENC: Sonata for Violin and Piano
FRANCK: Sonata for Violin and Piano in A major
CD 6:
MOZART: Duo for Violin and Viola in B flat major, K424
HONEGGER: Sonatina for Violin and Cello
KODALY: Duo for Violin and Cello, Op. 7
Josef Suk (violin), Josef Hala (piano), Jan Panenka (piano), Alfred Holecek (piano), Andre Navarra (cello), Milan Skampa (viola).
SUPRAPHON SU 4075-2 (6 CD)
Josef Suk: Piano Quintet & Piano Quartet
SUK: Piano Quartet in A minor Op. 1; Four Pieces for Violin and Piano Op. 17; Piano Quintet in G minor Op. 8
The Nash Ensemble - Marianne Thorsen (violin), Lawrence Power (viola), Paul Watkins (cello), Ian Brown (piano), Benjamin Nabarro (violin)
HELIOS CDH55416 (CD)
Dvorak: Violin Concerto/Suk: Fantasy
DVORAK: Concerto in A minor for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 53
SUK: Fantasy in G minor for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 24
Josef Suk (violin), Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Karel Ancerl (conductor)
SUPRAPHON 11 0601-2 (CD)
Suk: Asrael Symphony
SUK: Asrael Symphony Op. 27
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Jiri Belohlavek (conductor).
CHANDOS CHAN 9042 (CD)
Josef Suk
CD1:
SUK: Asrael – Symphony in C minor, Op. 27
CD2:
SUK: A Summer’s Tale, Symphonic poem, Op. 29
Praga, Symphonic Poem, Op. 26
CD3:
SUK: The Ripening, Symphonic Poem, Op. 34
Fairy Tale, Concert Suite from the Music to Zeyer’s Tale. Raduz and Mahulena, Op. 16
CD4:
SUK: Epilogue – Symphony for Orchestra, Large and Small mixed Chorus, Soprano, Baritone and Bass, Op. 37.
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Zora Jehlickova (soprano), Ivan Kusnjer (baritone), Jan Galla (bass), Prague Philharmonic Choir, Lubomir Matl, Petr Skvor (violin), Vaclav Neumann (conductor), Libor Pesek (conductor).
SUPRAPHON SU 3864-2 (4 CDs)
Reformation 1517-2017
BACH, J S: Cantata BWV79 'Gott der Herr ist Sonn und Schild'; Cantata BWV80 'Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott'
BRAHMS: Warum ist das Licht gegeben? Op. 74 No. 1
CROFT: O God, our Help in Ages past
CRUGER: Now thank we all our God (Nun danket)
LUTHER: Ein’ feste Burg ist unser Gott; Mit Freud und Freud ich fahr dahin
MENDELSSOHN: Wer nur den lieben Gott lasst walten
NEUMARK: Wer nur den lieben Gott lasst walten
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: Lord, Thou has been our refuge
Holly Holt (soprano), Catherine Clark (mezzo-soprano), Jackson Riley (tenor), Christopher Holliday (bass), Paul Sharp (trumpet), Nicholas Morris (organ), Choir of Clare College, Cambridge, Clare Baroque, Graham Ross (director)
HARMONIA MUNDI HMM902265 (CD)
Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto & Symphony No. 5
MENDELSSOHN: Hebrides Overture Op. 26; Violin Concerto in E minor Op. 64; Symphony No. 5 in D major Op. 107 'Reformation'
Isabelle Faust (violin), Freiburger Barockorchester, Pablo Heras-Casado (conductor)
HARMONIA MUNDI HMM902325 (CD)
The Gundula Janowitz Edition
CD1:
MOZART: Concert Arias, Idomeneo, Cosi Fan tutte
CD2:
TELEMANN: Ino
HANDEL: Der Messias
BACH: Weihnachtsoratorium
CD3:
BEETHOVEN: Egmont, C major Mass
BRAHMS: Ein deutsches Requiem
CD4:
WEBER: Der Freischutz, Oberon
WAGNER: Tannhauser, Lohengrin, Rienzi, Parsifal
LORTZING: Der Waffenschmied
STRAUSS II: Die Fledermaus
CD5:
R. STRAUSS: Vier letzte Lieder (Haitink), Capriccio
ORFF: Carmina burana
MOZART: Le nozze di Figaro, “Waisenhaus” Mass
MENDELSSOHN: Paulus
BRAHMS: Ein deutsches Requiem
CD6:
HAYDN: Die Jahreszeiten, Die Schopfung
BEETHOVEN: Missa solemnis
CD7:
GLUCK: Orfeo ed Euridice
MOZART: Cosi fan tutte
BEETHOVEN: Fidelio
CD8:
WAGNER: Die Walkure
CD9:
WAGNER: Die Walkure, Lohengrin
WEBER: Der Freischutz
CD10-13:
SCHUBERT: Lieder with Irwin Gage (piano)
CD14:
R. STRAUSS: Vier letzte Lieder (Karajan)
BACH: B minor Mass Matthaus-Passion
WAGNER: Gotterdammerung
Gundula Janowitz (soprano), Claudio Abbado, Leonard Bernstein, Wilfried Boettcher, Karl Bohm, Bernard Haitink, Eugen Jochum, Herbert von Karajan, Carlos Kleiber, Hans Knappertsbusch, Rafael Kubelik, Ferdinand Leitner, Kurt Masur, John Pritchard, Karl Richter, Christoph Stepp.
DEUTCHE GRAMMOPHON 00289 479 7348 (14 CD’s)
1050 – Mark Lowther on Louis Frémaux
Louis Fremaux: The Complete CBSO Recordings
BERLIOZ: Grande Messe des Morts Op. 5 (Requiem); Le carnaval romain Overture Op. 9; Benvenuto Cellini Overture; La Damnation de Faust Op. 24 (excerpts); Les Troyens a Carthage (excerpts)
BIZET: Roma, symphony for orchestra in C major; Symphony in C
CHABRIER: Espana
DEBUSSY: Prelude a l'apres-midi d'un faune
DUKAS: The Sorcerer's Apprentice
FAURE: Requiem Op. 48; Cantique de Jean Racine Op. 11; Ballade in F sharp major for solo piano or piano & orchestra Op. 19
HONEGGER: Movement symphonique No. 1 'Pacific 231'
IBERT: Divertissement; Symphonie marine; Bacchanale; Louisville Concerto; Bostoniana
LALO: Symphonie espagnole Op. 21; Cello Concerto in D minor
LITOLFF: Concerto Symphonique No. 4 in D minor Op. 102
MASSENET: Le Cid - Ballet music; Scenes pittoresques; La Vierge: Le Dernier Sommeil de la vierge (Legende sacree)
MCCABE, J: Notturni ed Alba; Symphony No. 2
OFFENBACH: Orphee aux Enfers Overture; La Grande-Duchesse de Gerolstein - Overture; La Belle Helene Overture; Barbe-bleue - Overture; La Perichole: Overture
POULENC: Gloria; Piano Concerto; Les Biches
RAVEL: Bolero
SAINT-SAENS: Cello Concerto No. 1 in A minor Op. 33; Symphony No. 3 in C minor Op. 78 'Organ Symphony'; Le carnaval des animaux; Le Cygne; Etude en forme de valse (No. 6 from Six Etudes Op. 52); Prelude to Le Deluge Op. 45; Wedding Cake - Valse-Caprice for piano & strings Op. 76; Allegro Appassionato in B minor Op. 43; Danse macabre Op. 40
SATIE: Trois Gymnopedies
WALTON: Facade; Gloria; Coronation Te Deum; Crown Imperial; Orb and Sceptre; The Wise Virgins
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Louis Fremaux (conductor)
WARNER CLASSICS 90295886738 (12CD)
1150 - DOTW
Dvorak – Suk : Piano Quartets
DVORAK: Piano Quartet No. 2 in E Flat major, Op. 87 (1889)
SUK: Piano Quartet in A minor, Op. 1 (1891)
Josef Suk Piano Quartet, Radmin Kresta (violin), Eva Krestova (viola), Vaclav Petr (cello), Vaclav Macha (piano)
SUPRAPHON SU 4227-2 (CD)
Broadcast
- Sat 26 Aug 2017 09:00ý Radio 3
Composers A to Z
Browse previous episodes of the Record Review Podcast
Why the music we love as teens stays with us for life
Cognitive neuropyschology can explain why we return to old favourites again and again.