Robert Gerle performs concertos of Delius and Barber

A while back I offered up some playing by the fine Hungarian-American violinist Robert Gerle. On this Westminster stereo lp, Gerle is joined by forgotten American conductor Robert Zeller for an interesting coupling of the Delius and Barber violin concertos. The orchestra, probably totally unfamiliar with this music, is the ubiquitous Vienna State Opera Orchestra.

I admire the programming here however, I think a bit more care could have gone into the presentation. The Delius, for one, is very much a fringe repertoire piece and having it recorded by a Viennese orchestra, not comfortable with the style and lacking in rehearsal time, makes for a somewhat wooden traversal. I think Gerle acquits himself quite well but if he had had an English orchestra with a stronger podium hand, the vinyl production could have yielded more of a winner. In short, what we have here is a solid go at the Delius (much can be said for the Barber as well) but by no means is this definitive.

Alas, an interesting curiosity and my admiration for Westminster at having a go at it.

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Walter Hendl conducts Copland and Barber for the American Recording Society

Today, American Recording Society Number 26  featuring Walter Hendl and the "American Recording Society" Orchestra in Copland's Appalachian Spring Suite and Barber's Overture to the School for Scandal and Music for a Scene from Shelley.

This is a very persuasive offering by an American  born conductor who has all but disappeared from the musical radar. Though Hendl would rerecord with Copland with the formidable Chicago SO, this earlier effort from Vienna captures beautifully the spirit of Copland's great rural ballet with surprisingly alive and alert orchestral playing. I will echo the same for the Barber pieces as they positively come to life with great energy and virile excitement. Considering that this was the first time these Viennese ever saw the music and, recorded with minimal rehearsal time, the results are simply astonishing, at least for this listener's ears. Hendl was known as a conductor who could work under extreme conditions and this record  is a testament to his excellence as an orchestral coach with solid interpretive skills, second to none.

You will love Hendl's Appalachian Spring. What gorgeous music!

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Dean Dixon and Howard Hanson conduct American Masters of the mid 20th century

Catching up on some transfers since I've basically been tied to the house this weekend with a queasy stomach. Perhaps its the chicken I ate the other night....

Here's some American music of the middle part of the last century. My pick here is the 10 inch (in honor of Buster) that I picked up a while back of Dean Dixon conducting Walter Piston's 2nd symphony with the "American Recording Society Orchestra." Recorded around 1950, it is the label's ARS-1 and the results of this first issue are absolutely thrilling. In my opinion, a composer could not ask for more powerful advocacy then what Dixon puts forth here. Orchestral playing is in spades here, a remarkable achievement for a pickup orchestra of sorts and this is possibly Dixon's finest recording of anything - it is THAT good. I am VERY happy with this transfer and I hope that you the listener will derive much pleasure from it. Piston's second is truly THE American symphony!

Howard Hanson conducts the balance of the program which includes Sessions' Suite from the Black Maskers, Hovhaness' Prelude and Quadruple Fugue, Barber's Overture to the School for Scandal and Adagio for Strings, and LoPresti's The Masks. I like the last piece very much; LoPresti was a rather prolific composer and arranger and he has a firm grasp on orchestral textures along with a solid gift in melody. Hanson, of course, proves a strong advocate of the music in this program since he was well acquainted with each composer in both a professional and personal setting. All composers write in a highly listenable vein which is bent on a conservative streak. Nuthin' wrong with that!

I think these compositions make for a nice, quite representative program of a very rich period in the musical life of my country.

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