Symphony No. 3 ("The Song of the Night"), Op. 27, M36
Pierre Boulez in Conversation with Andrew Clements (English)
Pierre Boulez im Gespräch mit Albert Hosp (Deutsch)
Pierre Boulez s'entretient avec Omer Corlaix (Français)
While Chopin usually bears the torch for Polish music, there is an equally important 20th-century composer one must laud: Karol Szymanowski. A master of tone color and orchestration, Szymanowski is a composer of complexity and technical brilliance. Pierre Boulez conducts the Wiener Philharmoniker with soloists Christian Tetzlaff on violin and tenor Steve Davislim. Szymanowski's Concerto for Violin and Orchestra No. 1 is a single movement with a lengthy cadenza. It is best understood in terms of tone color and ...
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While Chopin usually bears the torch for Polish music, there is an equally important 20th-century composer one must laud: Karol Szymanowski. A master of tone color and orchestration, Szymanowski is a composer of complexity and technical brilliance. Pierre Boulez conducts the Wiener Philharmoniker with soloists Christian Tetzlaff on violin and tenor Steve Davislim. Szymanowski's Concerto for Violin and Orchestra No. 1 is a single movement with a lengthy cadenza. It is best understood in terms of tone color and impressionistic moods rather than form. The piece begins with a swirling orchestra through which a high, light, dolcissimo violin enters (albeit too softly). Like a bird singing in the night, it is extremely lyrical. However, it is when the piece picks up in energy that it becomes the best example of virtuoso playing, 100% fire and energy. Tetzlaff's technique is flawless; his bowing is incredibly smooth and though he has tremendous control, it is his passion that strikes the listener most. The...
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