Dave's Faves No. 99 (Schnittke)
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- Опубликовано: 16 окт 2024
- Alfred Schnittke: Ritual; (K)ein Sommernachtstraum; Passacaglia; Faust Cantata. Soloists, Malmö Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, Leif Segerstam and James DePriest (conds.) BIS
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This was my first Schnittke recording and remains an all time favorite. I remember blasting the Faust cantata on my stereo in my small student accommodation. The "Es geschah..." aria is diabolicaly delightful and hair-raising.
One of my favorites, too. I've used (K)ein Sommernachsttraum and the Faust Cantata (especially the amplified contralto solo) regularly in my classes.
I had the luck to hear the rehearsals and the first performance of the "Faust"-Cantata in Vienna with Gennady Rozhdestvenski. It was one of the very few occasions that he rehearsed. It was fantastic! Since then, Schnittke is one of my favorite composers - not all, the late symphonies are really bony; but there is so much wonderful stuff from him. Great that you suggested him - and, yes: this is the disc to start with Schnittke. Especially the fake-Haydn in the "Sommernachtstraum" is a marvel.
Great anecdote
I find the last three symphonies quite boring honestly. They're supposed to be bleak but I just end up tuning out.
What are some of your favorite Schnittke pieces?
@@kanishknishar Foremost the Faust-Cantata (not the opera, in which the cantata later became part of); the works Dave mentioned are very good, in my opinion, further the 1st concerto for viola and the 1st for violoncello. I do like very much the Concerto for Choir and the Penitential Psalms (both a capella in the tradition of orthodox music). Furthermore, the 2nd and the 3rd symphonies are fascinating in their way, not really beautiful in the common sense, but their music tries to speak, to communicate with the listener. And then, there is the "Gogol Suite", which is really witty and fresh. I guess, the original was written for stage or film. It is really entertaining.
Bravo Dave!! Back in 'the day' (the 90's) when I started to collect music this disc was my introduction to Schnittke. BIS coupled this disc with BISCD507, Cello Concerto no.1
Hymns (4) for cello and instrumental ensemble - Leif Segerstam, as a 'two-fer' and I purchased it new for an even greater (criminal) discount - five dollars!! In my eyes, perhaps the third eye, what makes this 'fave' so fabulous is you recommend Schnittke, a challenging composer with musical merits, and previously (hilariously) poo-pooed the Darmstadt Vol. 1 box set, which has no musical merits - it is all about the music!! I went on to purchase all of Schnittke's symphonies, etc. and this disc is also a sentimental favorite. Keep the surprises coming!!
LOL! That would not have made me rush out of the store. I would have been rushing to the counter to find out what it was so I could buy it! Magnificent!
Wonderful composer, fascinating works, outstandingly recorded. What’s not to like? The BIS Schnittke symphony cycle is eye and ear opening.
Many thanks for introducing me to this brilliant disc, Dave. I love “Es Geschah” - a true classic, which should nevertheless be even better known. The rest of the Faust Cantata is also awesome. In general, I think that Schnittke can be difficult to get into, but this disc is an ideal introduction. It’s interesting how many different genres and sub genres he mixes in the Faust cantata especially, from baroque to tango as you said, it’s really genuinely polystylistic.
I picked this CD out at random from my public library - I was looking to expand my musical horizons, had never heard of Schnittke, and honestly just liked the cover (someone seems to have donated this entire BIS Schnittke set to our library). I brought it home, popped it in and my gosh, I've been listening ever since! Good public libraries are a great way to branch out with no financial risk.
I'm a year late, but one of my favorite Schnittke experiences was with Sommernachstraum during a student festival. A bunch of us knew the name but never listened to his music; polystylistic doesn't sound too alien when reading it from a dictionary, but listening to an example is something else.
For the first minute my standpartner was asking me, "This isn't normal, is everyone sightreading like shit?"
Ach, my late father.... He got this CD when it came out, and we were both hooked on Schnittke ever since. For sentimental reasons, this CD is my favorite Schnittke. But more objectively, his quartets with Kronos are probably his greatest masterpiece.
Funny you should choose this Schnittke disc! It was my first exposure to his music and the only whole Schnittke CD. Quite enough for me. I haven’t listened to it recently because I quickly grew tired of his shenanigans! Will have to give it another listen soon. Thanks for the encouragement!
james de priest was musical director for some years with orchestre symphonique de québec...i remember a concert with him...really good conductor
Thank you so much for this! I have known about the Schnittke series on BIS for a little while but I was uncertain if I wanted to go for it because of how good it might be and if I would actually enjoy it. I will now definitely get this disc.
Thanks. I really need to get to know this composer better.
Greet Nr. 99 video, Dave. The BIS Schnittke recordings are splendid, and you picked one of the best. My other favorite is Schnittke's "Peer Gynt", recorded by the Royal Stockholm Opera Orchestra under Eri Klas. Certainly sonically it is exemplary. Too bad his music isn't performed here in Boston...
You weren’t kidding about Track 10! I feel like I’m having a full-on existential crisis right now.
It never fails.
Schnittke is also one of my favorite modern composers, and the BIS series is a great way to get to know him...I think, like Dave said about all composers needing to write a 'spring' work, all composers also need to write a 'Faust' piece as well, (so we can compare it to all the other examples in the repertoire, etc.)...Also, the other day someone suggested to Dave that he do the Haydn Symphony no 100 'Military' for his 100th Dave's Fave, and I just wanted to second the motion!
Sorry, that will come in numerical order in the Haydn Symphony Crusade.
@@DavesClassicalGuide Can't wait for that, or whatever you choose for the big 100th...I am up to 36 on the crusade...pacing myself and savoring every single one of them!
I treasured the BIS sampler with the Faust cantata. I imagined it being sung by Bianca Castafiore.
It should be paired with the Gliere concerto for coloratura soprano and orchestra.
Hey David, I don't know if you've heard the discs of Schnittke's film music on Capriccio, but I have really enjoyed them. Thanks for all your videos, they are great.
Yes I have!
You can find the extraordinary idea of casting alternative singer Iva Bittová as Mephisto in Faust Cantata on youtube. Let's hope that the Brno Philharmonic will record her version, which they play relatively often due to popular demand.
Track 10 played loudly on Halloween will ensure no trick-or-treaters come to your door.
Hi Dave. You've become so prolific of late I have some problems catching up and have just discovered this video. The Cantata is one of my favourite pieces of music whilst Ritual packs unbelievable amount of emotions into just under 9 minutes!
My question is regarding Schnittke's Faust as the complete opera - 'Historia Von D. Johann Fausten' on RCA with Hamburg Philharmonic: what's your thoughts on it? Is it worth having? I am a bit worried it will spoil all the fun of the Cantata as a stand-alone.
Thanks very much. Great work, can't get enough of you!
I'd stick with the cantata. It's more than enough.
Hey Dave, thanks for this review! I am just starting to get into Schnittke and didn't really know where to start, so this video came at a perfect time! I have listened to his Choir Concerto before which really blew me away, what are your thoughts on that work?
It's amazing!
I would also recommend his Cello concerto no.1. It is truly astounding.
@@nigelharris7367 Agreed.
If you want to get people, young or old, interested in contemporary 'classical' music try playing Schnittke's horror film version of Stille Nacht (Silent Night) and they will be hooked. I actually heard the passacaglia for the first time on my Walkman when I was travelling in a train during my trip to Europe in the early 1990s. It seemed appropriate music for the place and time immediately after the fall of the Soviet empire.
Hey Dave, have you ever considered doing a talk on Schnittke’s first symphony? I know recordings are limited, but it is an incredibly fascinating piece of music and I think it would be a very interesting and fun discussion!
I love the piece--but I need to find a version I can play bits of without copyright claims. We'll see.
HMV Records in Manhattan. Boy oy boy, the era didn’t last long but that was some time when the city had Tower, HMV, and Virgin, not to mention all of the smaller record stores.
Those were the days, my friends, we thought they'd never end, for we had Tower, Virgin, HMV...but now those days are gone, we're stuck with Amazon, unless its streaming, that's your cup of tea!
@@DavesClassicalGuide …Record Hunter, Colony Records, on and on. The Fifth Avenue Barnes and Noble had a fine classical LP section back in the 1970’s. For us jazz and offbeat rock collectors Greenwich Village was a wonderland of specialty new and used shops as well.
@@pauldavidartistclub6723 Yes, it's where a good bit of my Martinu collection wound up after my apartment was burglarized. I got it back.
I love Schnittke. Is he a contender for your difficult symphonists series?
Of course.
Dave will do the chamber version of Mahler’s 8. Symphony of the 100.