A neglected modern master
Brandon H. Borrman | New York | 12/06/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"For those who have never encountered the extraordinary work of Robert Gerhard, this is an ideal introduction. The Fourth is a tour de force of orchestral brilliance and subtlety. It is easy to see the influences of his teacher, Shoenberg, but the equally important influence of the beloved Catalan of his childhood permeates the score with warmth and energy. Gerhard's music has been undeservedly hidden from the public simply because of his modernist, twelve-tone techniques, but no one brought more energy and pure beauty of sound to the form than Gerhard. This disc captures an amazing performance of the fourth, and one of the few good performances of one of his earlier ballets. A wonderful introduction to his world featuring both his late masterpiece and an early gem. My only reservation is that this disc marks the end of Chandos' breath-taking Gerhard series."
A twinkling, underappreciated Catalan star
Bruce Hodges | New York, NY | 07/14/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Commissioned in 1966 by the New York Philharmonic, Roberto Gerhard's Symphony No. 4 is an fabulously detailed sonic landscape packed with all the glittering colors available in a large orchestra. (And it is quite large, including quadruple woodwind, six horns, four trumpets and trombones, piano, celesta, two harps, four timpani and enough percussion to keep four players on their toes.) Gerhard's liberal use of bells, marimba and celesta gives the score a pointillist feel, with huge, imaginative chords in the brass and strings underneath, and many passages remind one of his interest in electronics. (This piece is for instruments alone.)
Although Gerhard's interests lie in atonal construction, the sheer beauty here will probably persuade some listeners who might be wary of other composers, and at slightly more than 25 minutes, this complex work seems almost too short. Gerhard creates a ravishing universe that makes one want to inhabit it for much longer.
In 1942 he composed the ballet "Pandora" for choreographer Kurt Jooss (famous for the 1932 classic, "The Green Table") using themes derived from Catalan folk songs. This suite emerged two years later. Its five sections - "The Quest," "Psyche and the Youth," "Pandora's Carnival," "The Monster's Drill" and "Death and the Mothers" - are dark in keeping with the subject matter: Pandora opens a forbidden box and unleashes materialism and evil on the world. Like the Fourth Symphony, this suite is overflowing with fascinating orchestral effects, such as in the final movement, in which the violins have haunting harmonics while the piano offers a slow march.
Anyone who admires Debussy and Dutilleux will want to at least investigate Gerhard's work, and this might be an ideal introduction. The playing of the BBC Symphony Orchestra, brilliantly led by Matthias Bamert, captures all of the composer's vivid effects, and the recording (made in Blackheath Halls by Ralph Couzens) is clear and detailed. Anyone familiar with Chandos' outstanding sonic tradition will not be disappointed."
Track Listings (6) - Disc #1