
Josef Suk
Asrael Symphony in C minor
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Václav Neumann conducting.
The gorgeous sound of the CPO make this a real treat, highly recommended.
markof wrote:markof wrote:
Hi Fergus,
Listened to this a few times now and a strong recommendation.
I came across it in a recent Gramophone pick and the history is very interesting.
Here's a paste from the review at allmusic
"The audience of Renaissance enthusiasts at which this release is aimed may well be able to get an idea of its contents from the packaging, but others may be less sure of what they're getting into. Here's a brief rundown: the album includes the contents of a single choirbook from the British Library, presented by one Petrus Alamire to Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon around 1516. All of the 34 pieces are sacred motets. Alamire, whose adopted name was a sequence of note names within the medieval hexachord system, was indeed a diplomat and a spy, as well as a music scribe and a singer and composer of some talent. The choirbook did not, however, contain any kind of coded message. It was simply a collection of choice pieces Alamire had gathered in his travels, something like "things you might not have heard or been aware of." Finally, the choir performing here is also named Capella Alamire. Some of the pieces are a cappella, and some are done with the loud or outdoor Renaissance forces, here represented by the English Cornett & Sackbut Ensemble. So, The Spy's Choirbook is not necessarily a candidate for basic Renaissance collections, but all the music is smoothly performed, and along the way are some nice finds that have never been heard on recordings anywhere else. The trio of La Rue motets on the first part of the program are prime examples of that composer's Josquin-like balance, and the second part contains an intriguing sequence of four settings of the same text, Dulces exuviae, by Josquin, Jean Mouton, Alexander Agricola, and an anonymous composer. The Spy's Choirbook in its own time was something of a connoisseur's selection of High Renaissance motets, and that is what it remains today."
Seán wrote:
Indeed I am Fergus. I would like to hear Zinman and the Tonhalle in performances of Mozart's symphonies, I think their approach is ideally suited to his music.fergus wrote:Seán wrote:
You seem to be enjoying that set Seán!