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Peter MENNIN (1923-1983)
Concertato Moby Dick, for orchestra (1952) [10:53]
Symphony no.3 (1946) [20:26]
Symphony no.7 Variation-Symphony (1963) [26:18]
Seattle Symphony/Gerard Schwarz
rec. Seattle Opera House, Washington, USA, 21-22 November 1994,
30 January 1995. DDD
NAXOS AMERICAN CLASSICS 8.559718 [57:37]
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These recordings were originally released on Delos (DE
3164) in the 1990s. Their reissue on Naxos, as part of both
that label’s outstanding American Classics series
and Seattle Symphony Collection can only be welcomed
by aficionados of the great American symphony - both senses.
Peter Mennin's output is centred on his nine symphonies and
three large-scale concertos. Despite his association with several
outstanding compatriot symphonists, Mennin's own sound is not
especially American. In fact, these orchestral works have quite
a Scandinavian feel about them, calling to mind the great symphonies
of Vagn Holmboe. There is also something of Vaughan Williams
- his Fourth Symphony especially - and, at least in terms of
contrapuntal energy and seriousness of intent, Hindemith.
Mennin's Third Symphony has appeared once before on Naxos, an
archive recording from the Fifties, available for streaming
or as a download only (9.80248) although see also the CRI
Mennin CD. Gerard Schwarz's version is altogether zippier
and renders Mennin's music all the more visceral. Indeed, the
primal energy of all three works, taken with their torsional
directness and sophisticated lyricism, gives them an unassailable
all-round attractiveness that would surely gratify audiences
as much today as was the case in the composer's heyday.
The Seattle Symphony's performance here is very stylish and
urbane, with Schwarz in his element in this kind of repertoire.
In the Seventh Symphony - premiered by the Cleveland Orchestra
under George Szell - they strut and sashay through the frequently
virtuosic score with deftness and panache. Sound quality is
good too. The booklet notes by Paul Schiavo are interesting
and well written.
Mennin is, arguably, a greater symphonist than Roy Harris or
Howard Hanson, who have both been relatively well served by
Naxos. The label could easily make amends for the relatively
short running time of this disc by now finding a suitable orchestra
and conductor - the Baltimore and Alsop? - to record the rest
of Mennin's superior symphonies for posterity.
Byzantion
Collected reviews and contact at artmusicreviews.co.uk
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