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Well done, Naxos!

Benjamin Lees is an American composer who was born in 1924. He is a composer who has deservedly won many prizes and awards and I have particularly enjoyed his orchestral works over many years.

As the title suggests the Symphony no 4 is dedicated to the victims of the holocaust and the soprano sings some verses written by a survivor.

The symphony does not have the dramatic power of say Schoenberg's masterly A Survivor From Warsaw and I am sure that Lees intended that to be so. What we have is a compelling work at times that needs to be listened to and not just played. It is aurally accessible and so those who are savage about modern music can relax.

Naxos have provided the text of the verses in the excellent booklet and their effective message is enhanced by the music. The first setting has a title which is fascinating in itself ... .Someone Blew The Shofar. The horror and gall of the next song But Who Emptied Your Shoes Of Sand? is very evocative and what is captured in the last song Footsteps is most telling, for those who have the appropriate insight

Worth investigating.

Reviewer

David Wright

Performance

Recording

See also earlier review by Rob Barnett as part of a survey of the Naxos American Classics

Reviewer

David Wright

Performance

Recording

Reviews from previous months