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Roberto Gerhard, Matthias Bamert, BBC Symphony Orchestra
Gerhard: Symphony 2/Concerto for Orchestra
Genre: Classical

Track Listings (3) - Disc #1
1. Concerto for Orchestra Symphony No. 2: Concerto for Orchestra
2. Concerto for Orchestra Symphony No. 2: Poco sostenuto - Allegro assai
3. Concerto for Orchestra Symphony No. 2: Lento - Comodamente - Molto vivace

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CD Details

All Artists: Roberto Gerhard, Matthias Bamert, BBC Symphony Orchestra
Title: Gerhard: Symphony 2/Concerto for Orchestra
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 0
Label: Chandos
Release Date: 3/23/1999
Genre: Classical
Styles: Forms & Genres, Concertos, Symphonies
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 095115969427

Synopsis

Amazon.com

Spanish composer Roberto Gerhard (1896-1970) is one of the most underappreciated composers of the 20th century, whose music is only now, thanks primarily to this new series by Chandos, coming into major recognition. Gerhard's music transcends any easy categorizing. Suffice to say that it's a rigorous (almost radical) postmodernism that employs extreme musical textures and sonic embellishments of surprising complexity. However, this music is not for everyone, especially those expecting Bartók when listening to Gerhard's Concerto for Orchestra (1965) or anything like Manuel de Falla's brand of romanticism in the astonishingly breathtaking Symphony No. 2 (1955). What is even more astonishing is the pristine and frighteningly exact performances that Matthias Bamert gets out of the BBC Symphony Orchestra here. This will knock your teeth out. --Paul Cook

CD Reviews

Fascinating!

Michel Bouton | Schenectady, NY | 05/01/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you're into late Schoenberg, (Think of Variations for Orchestra, op.31) You will have a pretty good idea what Roberto Gerhard sounds like. Only Gerhart's percussion textures are much more complex. Take the Concerto for Orchestra for example. It's a kaleidoscope of colors and textures thats constantly changing. The opening is quite fierce, but it takes you in like a black hole. It's persistently mutating from hard to soft, darkness to light. The Symphony is no different, a whirlwind of color that will keep you intrigued throughout. If you like modern and post-modern classical music, I highly recommend this disc! ."

Modern but not atonal

G. M. Poteat | East of Texas | 07/01/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the first Gerhard disc that I purchased and is perhaps my favorite. I think it is excellent modern orchestral music. However, I recommend that one listen to Gerhard before purchasing any of his compositions. He is not for everyone. But if you like Stostakovich, you will probably like Gerhard. I haven't listened to most of the modern composers (Glass, Reich, etc.) but Gerhard wrote some beautiful (IMO) music. Wikipedia has a nice article about Gerhard and compare him to Bartok and Stravinsky. He was supposedly much influenced by Schoenberg. I have a lot of Stravinsky and some Bartok but don't know Schoenberg. Gerhard's works are to me quiet different in structure from Stravinsky, and I am actually more fond of Gerhard. For some reason, I think Gerhard's music has a flavor (sound) like Rachmaninoff. I must point out that I don't know that much about music - I just listen to a lot of music."