Charles Hampson, Baritone – Chen Resiss, Soprano – Mahler Chamber Orchestra – Kent Nagano – Musikfest Berlin 2012 – August 31, 2012 – ORF-1 –
Something special this week. The opening concert of the Berlin Musikfest 2012 featuring the Mahler Chamber Orchestra led by Kent Nagano and featuring Charles Hampson, Baritone and Chen Reiss Soprano in a concert devoted entirely to the music of Charles Ives.
I guess, leave it to the Germans to give Ives his due. The crowd at Philharmonie Hall in Berlin was sold out and the audience was enthralled with what they heard. And why not? Ives has been one of America’s best kept secrets (for the most part) and he is met with much more acceptance in other parts of the world than he is here. Oh, and it promises to get worse. Alright. Enough.
Here’s what’s on the program:
1. Orchestral Set No.2
* An elegy to our forefathers – 1st movement
* The rockstrewn hills join in the people’s outdoor meeting – 2nd movement.
* From Hanover Square North, at the end of a tragic day, the voice of the people again arose – 3rd movement
2. 5 songs from “114 Songs”, orchestrated by Georg Friedrich Haas
Soloist: Thomas Hampson/Baritone
Soloist: Chen Reiss/Soprano
3. 5 songs from “114 Songs”, orchestrated by Toshia Hosokawa
soloist : Thomas Hampson/Baritone
Soloist: Chen Reiss/Soprano
4. 5 songs from “114 Songs”, orchestrated by John Adams
Soloist: Thomas Hampson/Baritone
Soloist: Chen Reiss/Soprano
6. Symphony No.2
* Andante moderato – 1st movement; Allegro – 2nd movement
* Adagio cantabile – 3rd movement
* Lento maestoso – 4th movement; Allegro molto vivace – 5th movement
In the event you have no idea:
Charles Ives ( October 20, 1874 – May 19, 1954) was an American modernist composer, one of the first American composers of international renown. His music was largely ignored during his early life, and many of his works went unperformed for many years. Later in life, the quality of his music was publicly recognized, and he came to be regarded as an “American original”. He was also among the first composers to engage in a systematic program of experimental music, with musical techniques including polytonality, polyrhythm, tone clusters, aleatory elements, and quarter tones. His experimentation foreshadowed many musical innovations that were later more widely adopted during the 20th century. Hence, he is often regarded as the leading American composer of art music of the 20th century.
Now you know, if you didn’t before.
Enjoy the concert.
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