Credits:

Saram, Rohan De

Description:

Bernstein's Symphonies No. 1 "Jeremiah" and No. 2 "The Age of Anxiety" performed by the prodigious Lindberg! SACD hybrid disc. This is the second "Bernstein Album" by "Conductor" Christian Lindberg. Following the previous "The Wharf" (BIS SA 2278), which included the overture to "Candide," "Symphonic Dances" from "West Side Story," and "Three Dance Episodes" from "On the Town," Lindberg conducts the Arctic Philharmonic in two symphonic works. The Symphony No. 1 "Jeremiah," subtitled after the prophet in the Old Testament, was written as a three-movement work, the last movement of which is the "Lamentations" in "Hebrew," composed after his graduation from Harvard University in 1939. The "Prophecy" is a "strong plea from the prophet to the people," the "Scherzo" (Profanation) is a "scherzo" of "destruction and chaos brought about by pagan depravity," and the "Lamentation" is a mezzo-soprano's rendition of a poem from "Jeremiah's Lament." The "Lamentation" is a "soprano's lament for the people," and the "Lamentations" is a "soprano's lament for the people.Although it failed in the New England Conservatory's composition competition, Bernstein was recognized by Fritz Reiner, who taught him how to conduct, and in 1944 Bernstein himself conducted the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, of which Reiner was the music director, in its premiere performance. Symphony No. 2 "The Age of Anxiety" was inspired by the poem "The Age of Anxiety" by W.H. Auden, winner of the 1948 Pulitzer Prize. Set in a New York City saloon during World War II, three men and one woman speak of their own anxieties and search for meaning and identity. Following the structure and title of Auden's poem, Bernstein has created two sections, "Part 1" [The Prologue], "The Seven Ages" (Variations 1-7), "The Seven Stages" (Variations 8-14), and "Part 2" [The Dirge ( The Dirge," "The Masque," and "The Epilogue.The work also incorporates elements of blues and jazz, and Bernstein's instrument, the piano, plays an important role. Anna Larsson, named court singer, and Roland Penttinen, known for his chamber music recordings for the BIS label with Ulf Varin and Turleif Tedene, are the soloists. This session recording was made at the Storumen concert hall in Baudou, Norway. King International

Tracklisting:

1.Symphony No. 1 (Jeremiah) for orchestra and mezzo-soprano~I. Prophecy
2.Symphony No. 1 (Jeremiah) for orchestra and mezzo-soprano~II. Profanation
3.Symphony No. 1 (Jeremiah) for orchestra and mezzo-soprano~III. Lamentation
4.Symphony No. 2 (The Age of Anxiety) for piano and orchestra~Part I: The Prologue
5.Symphony No. 2 (The Age of Anxiety) for piano and orchestra~Part I: The Seven Ages (Variations I to VII)
6.Symphony No. 2 (The Age of Anxiety) for piano and orchestra~Part I: The Seven Stages (Variations VIII to XIV)
7.Symphony No. 2 (The Age of Anxiety) for piano and orchestra~Part II: The Dirge
8.Symphony No. 2 (The Age of Anxiety) for piano and orchestra~Part II: The Masque
9.Symphony No. 2 (The Age of Anxiety) for piano and orchestra~Part II: The Epilogue