Norwegian Chamber Orchestra;Terje Tønnesen; Teodor Janson
Release Date: 31 March 2017
Label: Lawo
Packaging Type: Fat Double (a 2.5cm thick jewel case, fits several CDs)
No of Units: 3
Barcode: 7090020181363
Genres: Classical Orchestral
Description
The Arts Desk recently described this recording as: "It's gripping. All handsomely produced, with detailed notes and the text of Tolstoy's story. Unmissable."
BBC Music Magazine Orchestral Choice June 2017: "....astonishing pianissimos.....add this beautifully presented release to your collection."
"This is a winning combination of dramatic narrative and closely allied music, and with such potently performed orchestrations of Janácek's two quartets we very much have a complete package - both musical and literary - that is well worth having." Musicweb International
Terje Tønnesen, Artistic Director of the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra, has arranged Janácek's two string quartets for string orchestra on this innovative recording from Lawo Classics.
Additionally, he has incorporated Leo Tolstoy's novella The Kreutzer Sonata into Janácek's music of the same name; this package is therefore a triple CD with Janacek's music and also dramatizations of Tolstoy's novella 'The Kreutzer Sonata' in both English and Norwegian.
Tønnesen says of this recording:
"The idea of arranging Janácek's two string quartets for string orchestra has implicated two different approaches for me. The first is timbral; while the quartets' ever-changing dramatics make it challenging to 'resonate' with the solo instruments in a string quartet, the collective sound of the orchestra adds a new dimension to the music.
The other approach was to incorporate Leo Tolstoy´s novella The Kreutzer Sonata into Janácek's music of the same name, and thereby introduce a new form of drama.
In his quartet, Janácek does not follow the storyline of Tolstoy's novella as closely as Arnold Schoenberg once did with his musical setting of Richard Dehmel's poem, Verklärte Nacht. However Janácek's writing brings on intense emotions with strong linguistic and theatrical gestures, which, in my opinion, would be further reinforced in direct connection with the novella.
Tentatively, we introduced a selection of quotes from the novella in our concerts and this eventually led to the idea of developing a radio drama performance. In this arrangement, the quartet's four movements are performed in their entirety, 'strategically' positioned in four crucial points in the story, while parts of the music also serve as a dramatic foundation for the text.
In the process of text adaptation, the novella´s plot and emotional aspects were given priority over its philosophical considerations."
Since its formation in 1977 the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra has established itself as one of the foremost chamber orchestras on the international classical music scene today. Current artistic director Terje Tønnesen has held this role since the orchestra's formation.
Tracklisting
Torleif Thedeen (cello) & Marianna Shirinyan (piano)
Oslo Kammerkor, Hakon Daniel Nystedt
Berit Norbakken (soprano) & Solmund Nystabakk (lutes)
Magnus Boye Hansen (violin), Mathias Halvorsen (piano)
Tine Thing Helseth, tenThing Brass Ensemble
Marianne Beate Kielland, Halvor Festervoll Melien, Nils Anders Mortensen
Jan Martin Smordal
Daniel Saether, Ensemble C4
Anna Gourari, Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana & Markus Poschner
Vladimir Delman; Milan RAI Symphony Orchestra
Thomas Schippers; Orchestra Sinfonica di Torino della Rai; New York Philharmonic Orchestra; Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
Liepaja Symphony Orchestra
Johanna Domotor; Meesun Hong Coleman; Stuttgarter Kammerorchester
Josef Krips; Various Orchestras
Josef Krips
Atalanta Fugiens Orchestra; Vanni Moretto
