symphony of a thousand

[pianistimo]

just got a call from the philly orchestra today.  this is christophe eisenbach's closing season 2007-2008 and he's going to be conducting mahler's 'symphony of a thousand' on may 3, 2008.  it is the first time since 1916 this piece has been performed by the philadelphia orchestra (so i am told) and there are plenty of singers.

[pianowelsh]

Get a ticket quick - its always a sell out 'symphony of a thousand'.  I was involved in a performance in my home town some years ago with a noteable conductor (as a singer). The tickets were sold out in 2 days (2000+ seats!) and it was broadcast.

[cmg]

Yeah, P., order tickets NOW.  That should be a real festival event on all counts.  I've heard three live Mahler 8ths in my life and a performance is never to be missed.

That reminds me, I've been meaning to ask you if you know Franz Schmidt's gigantic oratorio "Das Buch mit sieben Siegeln."  Big, fat juicy piece, and here's the sales hook for you -- text based on "Revelations." 

I love Schmidt and this piece is regarded as his masterpiece.  If you don't know it, Franz Welser-Most conducts a terrific performance on EMI.  Your library might have it, if you don't want to spring for the double-CD set.   

[ahinton]

Yeah, P., order tickets NOW.  That should be a real festival event on all counts.  I've heard three live Mahler 8ths in my life and a performance is never to be missed.

That reminds me, I've been meaning to ask you if you know Franz Schmidt's gigantic oratorio "Das Buch mit sieben Siegeln."  Big, fat juicy piece, and here's the sales hook for you -- text based on "Revelations." 

I love Schmidt and this piece is regarded as his masterpiece.  If you don't know it, Franz Welser-Most conducts a terrific performance on EMI.  Your library might have it, if you don't want to spring for the double-CD set.   

It is indeed Schmidt's masterpiece - an utter triumph; it's surprising how rarely it is performed. Its openeing and closing has a strange sense of William Walton about it (though heaven knows why - it must just be a coincidence) but the rest is Schmidt himself at his absolute best. It was hailed as one of the great German works at the time and, since that time was the 1930s, you may imagine who hailed it thus. It is thought to have been on the very considerable strength of this work that Schmidt was commissioned to compose a piece in honour and celebration of the Third Reich and its achievements. As a German composer in the 1930s, you'd be taking a most grave personal and professional risk to refuse such an order from on high, so Schmidt accepted, knowing full well that he would never write a note of it as he was already dying.

Yes, do get this piece; it is itself a revelation...

Best,

Alistair

[pianistimo]

he was already dying?  of what?  whew.  composers lives seem to always have a lot of elements of surprise and drama.  he wrote it on 'revelations'  - the biblical one?  hmm.  interesting.  i will have to go take a listen as i've never heard it.  thanks for filling me in, cmg.

and, of course, follow the advice to order tickets now.  what would be really sad is to have some change of plans (like that bad muti experience i had.  i waited so long to hear ricardo muti, and he got sick.  boohoo).  and, no refunds - but a replacement program.  from that i was kinda bummed at the ticket sales - instead of having ricardo the following week or something.  what do i know?  i just wanted to hear him once in my life.

[gep]

It is indeed Schmidt's masterpiece - an utter triumph (...) Schmidt was commissioned to compose a piece in honour and celebration of the Third Reich and its achievements. (...) Yes, do get this piece; it is itself a revelation...

Best,

Alistair

Indeed it is an great piece, I've got this recording: https://shop.vkjk.de/cgi-bin/vm/vio.matrix?kd=027f08ccac00bbc&or=1&detail=399821518&artname=Mdr+Edition+06%3A+Franz+Schmidt+%2D+Das+Buch+mit+sieben+Siegeln.
Perhaps he did write a piece about the 3rd Reich and its achievements by way of this oratorio! After all, it is based on the Book of Revelations, in Greek called Apocalypsis. If you take the part describing the opening of the Second Seal, this really sounds scarily much like a SS razzia being described. Indeed DO gt it!

I got to this topic because I searched to find some other member’s feelings about Franz Schmidt’s great Piano Concerto (for the left hand, that of the famous Wittgenstein), but to my surprise found nothing! How strange! Big concerto, full of great music, and not mentioned here!

So please do let me advice all those interested in great but unknown music, and to those who like the (late-)Romantic period especially!

All best,
gep

[thalbergmad]

Faints.

For an awful minute, I thought she had returned.

Thal

[djealnla]

Faints.

For an awful minute, I thought she had returned.

Thal

So did I.