Search - Gian Carlo Menotti, Richard Hickox, Spoleto Festival Orchestra :: Menotti: Fantasia for Cello and Orchestra; Apocalisse (Apocalypse); Suite from 'Sebastian'

Militant Angels and All

Thomas F. Bertonneau | Oswego, NY United States | 12/27/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"It is by his television opera "Amal and the Night Visitors" that most music-lovers know Gian-Carlo Menotti (born 1911), the bulk of whose production is for the lyric stage. But Menotti has also written a respectable raft of purely instrumental and orchestral music, highlights of which appear on the present Chandos CD. The three movements of "Apocalypse" (1951-53) suggest something on a symphonic order; or if not quite a symphony, the work is nevertheless unified in mood and lavish in its gestures. In these qualities it resembles the sectional tone poems of Respighi, particularly his "Church Windows," in whose idiom Menotti unashamedly writes. Richard Hickox leads the Orchestra of the Spoleto Festival in a broad, even lavish, traversal of the score, its fanfares and chant-like chorales beautifully captured by the Chandos engineers. The initial "Improperia" is the most imposing of the three movements, the darkest in mood, and the most complicated in structure. It opens with piercing trumpets and hazy strings building up to cinematic outburst fit for C. B. de Mille type special effects. The following "Citta Celeste" offers repose between the two spectacular panels. The final movement, "Angeli Militanti," will bring to mind Respighi's "St. Gregory the Great" ("Church Windows" IV). The competition comes from a Koch CD with James de Preist leading the Oregon Symphony, which mates "Apocalypse" with "Meditations on Ecclesiastes" by Norman Dello Joio and with a short piece ("Masques," I think) by Anthony Lo Presto. Hickox and Chandos do a better job, as nice as the de Preist performance is. The new CD also offers up Menotti's "Fantasy for Cello and Orchestra" (1976), a pleasant one-movement concerto in the composer's usual lyrical vein, and the suite from the ballet "Sebastian." The latter belongs to a peculiar twentieth century sub-genre, the sacred ballet. Hindemith's "Nobilissima Visione," Dello Joio's "The Triumph of Saint Joan," and Ingolf Dahl's "The Tower of Saint Barbara" are other entries in the same category. As for the "Fantasy," it is as good as or better than many a twentieth century concerted work with solo cello; it has something of the Barber Concerto's edginess, an influence not unexpected in Menotti. Anyone who enjoys music in a conservative, neo-Romantic idiom (I include myself) will find something to like in this work. The soloist has a very sweet tone, most appropriate for the music. The suite from "Sebastian" is likewise attractive, although without the "through composed" logic of its companions on the program; the somber conclusion makes the most lasting impression, although there is much attractive music along the way. It would be nice were Chandos to follow this disc with a recorded program, say, of the two piano concertos and the double bass concerto, all of which would fit within the eighty-two minute limit of the CD format. Menotti was born in Italy but came to the United States in the 1930s and remained there for decades. In his musical language, he is at one with the Italian American "school" of composers like Vittorio Giannini, Nicolas Flagello, Paul Creston (born Guttovecchio): he avoids the cultivated ugliness of the twentieth century "isms" and writes ingratiating music for a broad, but still discriminating, audience. Especially for "Apocalypse" and the "Fantasy," I recommend this CD."

Festival orchestra playing at its best

D. B. Rathbun | Washington, DC United States | 11/17/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This recording quickly became among my favorites of my several-hundred-large CD collection of mostly post-1900 music. First of all, the music is lush, dramatic, relevant, and generally enjoyable. Whether Menotti deserves the distinction of being one of only 4 composers to win more than one Pulitzer, it can hardly be disputed that his music is some of the best written in the 20th century. And though most argue that his stage works are where it's at, the works on this disc present not only the "cream" of his concert music, but also a nice collection of works from different periods in his life (though Menotti was unusually consistent in his style throughout his life).Second, the playing is outstanding. One thing to keep in mind is that the festival orchestra is often made up of only the top people from the world's top orchestras, a sort of all-star team. On top of that, for them it's a vacation for them, so their playing can be less forced and indifferent, and in many cases more thoroughly worked out. The Spoleto festival is certainly among the best, and the group on this recording holds its own as well as any orchestra on earth. But furthermore, really, the playing on this disc can be described as nothing less
than absolutely first rate. Every detail reflects attention, nuance, sensitivity, musicality, and the utmost precision.Third, the recording engineer did an incredible job. This recording could easily serve as one of the best "test" recordings. It's simply very nice, warm, without lumps, consistent, well balanced, and detailed. A better portrayal of music on PVC could not be found.Among the many discs out there, this one would be a valuable addition to any library. It's not music that gets overplayed, and indeed is perhaps clearly underplayed. It's charming, accessible music, if not downright good, enough to appeal to both the novice and the musicologist. And, it's extremely well put together. Anyone who has more than one recording of anything by Bruckner has no excuse for not having this disc."

Menotti in Top Form

D. A Wend | Buffalo Grove, IL USA | 08/01/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It is good to see a new recording of Gian Carlo Menoti's music, particularly with a priemere. These recordung come from the Spoleto Festival, founded by Menotti, and conducted here by the Festival Music Director Richard Hickox. The recording was selected by the editor of Gramophone as one of the top ten selections of the month, and the music is very well played. There are other fine recordings of Sebastian and Apocalypse but those presented on this disc are dramatic, well recorded and were a birthday present for Menotti's 90th. A nice present indeed!"