Credits:
Brahms, J.
Description:
Gardiner & LSO Mendelssohn Series New Disc "A Midsummer Night's Dream" Including Narrative "A Midsummer Night's Dream" A richly colored fairy tale worldThe fourth installment of the Mendelssohn Series conducted by Sir John Eliot Gardiner with the London Symphony Orchestra. A Midsummer Night's Dream", including the narrative part, is a remarkable performance. A Midsummer Night's Dream" is a comedy about a fantasy on the eve of the Feast of St. John the Divine, which takes place around the time of the summer solstice. Mendelssohn composed the overture at the age of 17, inspired by Shakespeare's play. Gardiner and the LSO's meticulous performance of the overture is a reminder of Mendelssohn's delicate orchestration. The music for the play that follows, composed 17 years after the overture, has not lost any of the color and vibrancy of the 17-year-old's music, but rather has gained clarity and is filled with melodies that are rich in poetry, like Schumann. As the performance was given in the year marking the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's (1564-1616) death, Gardiner structured the flow with an emphasis on the world of fairies and the story of human love. The richly colored fairy tale world depicted by Mendelssohn is beautifully recreated.The recording of the narrative is another nice touch. The actors who perform the play have all studied at the prestigious Guildhall School of Music and Drama, giving the audience a true taste of authentic Shakespeare. The chorus is also Gardiner's own troops, the prestigious Monteverdi Choir, and is a joy to behold. In addition to the conventional SACD hybrid disc, a Pure Audio Blu-ray disc containing the same performances will be included. The Blu-ray disc is a high-specification format that can be easily enjoyed on your Blu-ray disc player, a feature that has been well received by audiophiles. The Blu-ray disc also includes the February 16, 2016 concert as a bonus (including Symphony No. 1, which was performed in the first half). King International, Inc.
Tracklisting:
1.Overture: A Midsummer Night's Dream, Op. 21
2.A Midsummer Night's Dream: Incidental Music, Op. 61: Prologue (Narration) "Ay me! For aught that I c
3.A Midsummer Night's Dream: Incidental Music, Op. 61: No. 1 Scherzo
4.A Midsummer Night's Dream: Incidental Music, Op. 61: No. 2 L'istesso tempo
5.A Midsummer Night's Dream: Incidental Music, Op. 61: No. 2a Allegro vivace
6.A Midsummer Night's Dream: Incidental Music, Op. 61: No. 3 Lied mit Chor
7.A Midsummer Night's Dream: Incidental Music, Op. 61: No. 4 Andante
8.A Midsummer Night's Dream: Incidental Music, Op. 61: No. 5 Allegro appassionato
9.A Midsummer Night's Dream: Incidental Music, Op. 61: No. 7 Nocturne (Con moto tranquillo)
10.A Midsummer Night's Dream: Incidental Music, Op. 61: No. 8 Andante
11.A Midsummer Night's Dream: Incidental Music, Op. 61: No. 9 Hochzeitmarsch ("Wedding March") & No. 12
12.A Midsummer Night's Dream: Incidental Music, Op. 61: Finale. Allegro di molto
