Track Listings (19) - Disc #1| All Artists: Oliver Knussen, London Sinfonietta, Barry Tuckwell, Lucy Shelton Title: Knussen Conducts Knussen Members Wishing: 1 Total Copies: 0 Label: Deutsche Grammophon Release Date: 11/19/1996 Genres: Pop, Classical Styles: Vocal Pop, Chamber Music, Forms & Genres, Concertos, Instruments, Brass Number of Discs: 1 SwapaCD Credits: 1 UPC: 028944957228 |
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Search - Oliver Knussen, London Sinfonietta, Barry Tuckwell :: Knussen Conducts Knussen
 | Oliver Knussen, London Sinfonietta, Barry Tuckwell Knussen Conducts Knussen Genres: Pop, Classical
Oliver Knussen (b. 1952 in Glasgow, Scotland) is his generation's equivalent of Boulez, except that his ideas are more youthful and appeal less to the advanced intellect. This isn't to say that Knussen hasn't his rough e... more » |
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Amazon.com Oliver Knussen (b. 1952 in Glasgow, Scotland) is his generation's equivalent of Boulez, except that his ideas are more youthful and appeal less to the advanced intellect. This isn't to say that Knussen hasn't his rough edges. But this collection highlights his shorter works for orchestra (and voice), and his inventiveness and playfulness shine through. Of note here are Flourish with Fireworks (1988, 1993), the suite to The Way to Castle Yonder (1988-90) and Music for a Puppet Court (1972-73, 1983). Whitman Settings (1991-92) for soprano and orchestra is the only disappointment here. Lucy Shelton, for all her range, makes the words incoherent. --Paul Cook Similarly Requested CDs
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CD ReviewsStranded on a deserted island Homiski | 08/17/2000 (5 out of 5 stars) "I think that this would be one of the 5 CDs I would want to take along with me. For those unaware of British conductor/composer Oliver Knussen's precocious beginnings--he conducted the London Symphony in his Symphony No. 1 at age 15. Perhaps a "modern day Mozart" might be too strong, because it would imply a prolific amount of work (compositions) to show for it: but 'wunderkind' will do. Decades later, admirers of his work eagerly await the next masterpiece. His music simply 'sparkles' The listener is confronted with a density of melodic ideas (similar to polyphonic and polyrhythmic lines of Elliott Carter). While Carter's music can seem 'too much' for the ears to confront, Knussen's keen orchestration is so clear and lucid that in spite of the many lines going on, you can follow any and/or all at the same time. The disc opener "Fireworks with Flourish" is a kaleidoscopic fanfare unrivaled in contemporary music. Based on the "Feu d'Artifice" of Stravinsky, listening to them back to back one can hear hints peaking through the surface and texture of the Knussen, but he still retains his own compositional voice. My other favorite is the first of the Whitman Settings, for soprano and orchestra, "A Noiseless Patient Spider" sung exquisitely by Lucy Shelton. What can I say, Knussen's command of the orchestra is everywhere evident. He can have the full orchestra blasting different musical lines against the soprano, but she can ALWAYS be heard and understood. It is a must-have disc. If you are a listener curious what is being written in the here-and-now, but were never sure what to buy. This would be one of the best discs to purchase." Wonderful music; wish Knussen composed more. Karl Henzy | 12/09/1999 (5 out of 5 stars) "One just wishes there were more Knussen cds. All of the works on this disc are gems. The music snaps, dazzles, celebrates. But the Horn Concerto is the center piece of the disc, a 14-minute inspiration balancing the distant sonority of Barry Tuckwell's Horn against the closer, more rapid orchestral flurries. You'll come back to this work again and again. Knussen's a great conductor, but I wish he'd conduct less and compose more."
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