Skalkottas / Athens Philharmonia Orch / Varvaresos- Sinfonietta Concerto & Suite (CD)
This programme of previously unrecorded works illustrates a highly distinctive aspect of Nikos Skalkottas as a composer: The 'neoclassical' Skalkottas goes hand in hand with the 'national' and the 'modernist' composer, the common denominators being perfect architecture of form, harmonic refinement and skillful orchestration. The opening Sinfonietta in B flat major is a typical example of the composer's 'neoclassical' side. In four movements and with a duration of 25 minutes, it was written in 1948, during Skalkottas's final years. It is followed by the Suite for Violin and Chamber Orchestra and the Concerto for Violin, Piano and Orchestra, examples of the composer's atonal idiom. Both works were among the many that disappeared after the composer left Berlin in 1933. The remaining pieces demonstrate Skalkottas's involvement with the project of exploring the traditional music of Greece. The Cretan folk song Digenés in his Last Agony was transcribed and harmonized by Skalkottas - for this release a recording from 1930 of the voice of Eleftherios Venizelos, the Greek Prime Minister at the time, has been superimposed over the newly recorded orchestral accompaniment. The two marches are original compositions, but follow Greek models, while the Nine Greek Dances are Skalkottas's orchestrations of published folk songs. Simple and functional, they are in no way reminiscent of his great work, the 36 Greek Dances for large orchestra, but still reveal the composer's refined aesthetic approach. In a labor of love, the music is performed by conductor Byron Fidetzis and violinist Georgios Demertzis, who have both made important contributions to the Skalkottas discography, as well as pianist Vassilis Varvaresos and the Athens Philharmonia Orchestra, making their first appearance on BIS.
Tracklist:
- Sinfonietta In B-Flat Major, Ak 10 (Ed. Y. Samprovalakis): I. Andante Sostenuto - Allegro
- Sinfonietta In B-Flat Major, Ak 10 (Ed. Y. Samprovalakis): II. Andantino Triste
- Sinfonietta In B-Flat Major, Ak 10 (Ed. Y. Samprovalakis): III. Scherzino. Molto Vivace
- Sinfonietta In B-Flat Major, Ak 10 (Ed. Y. Samprovalakis): IV. Finale. Vivacissimo
- Concerto For Violin, Piano & Orchestra, Ak 21 (Orch. Y. Samprovalakis): I. Allegro Giusto
- Concerto For Violin, Piano & Orchestra, Ak 21 (Orch. Y. Samprovalakis): II. Andante Sostenuto
- Concerto For Violin, Piano & Orchestra, Ak 21 (Orch. Y. Samprovalakis): III. Allegro Vivo
- Concerto For Violin, Piano & Orchestra, Ak 21 (Orch. Y. Samprovalakis): IV. Andante Sostenuto
- Concerto For Violin, Piano & Orchestra, Ak 21 (Orch. Y. Samprovalakis): V. Allegro
- Little Suite, Ak 23 (Orch. Y. Samprovalakis): I. Allegro Moderato
- Little Suite, Ak 23 (Orch. Y. Samprovalakis): II. Moderato Maestoso
- Little Suite, Ak 23 (Orch. Y. Samprovalakis): III. Allegretto Vivace
- Little Suite, Ak 23 (Orch. Y. Samprovalakis): IV. Andante Sostenuto
- Digenés In His Last Agony (Transcr. N. Skalkottas) [Orch. Y. Samprovalakis]
- Ancient Greek March, Ak 11d
- March In D Major
- The Vlach Woman (Orch. N. Skalkottas) [Ed. Y. Samprovalakis]
- The Maypole (Orch. N. Skalkottas) [Ed. Y. Samprovalakis]
- Mount Pelion Dance (Orch. N. Skalkottas) [Ed. Y. Samprovalakis]
- High Up On Kostilata (Orch. N. Skalkottas) [Ed. Y. Samprovalakis]
- Corfiot Dance (Orch. N. Skalkottas) [Ed. Y. Samprovalakis]
- Up The Street (Orch. N. Skalkottas) [Ed. Y. Samprovalakis]
- Lioúlios (Orch. N. Skalkottas) [Ed. Y. Samprovalakis]
- Paraskevoúla (Orch. N. Skalkottas) [Ed. Y. Samprovalakis]
- Physoúni (Orch. N. Skalkottas) [Ed. Y. Samprovalakis]
UPC > 7318599924342
Format > New CD
Label > Bis
Shop online at Darkside Records.
Follow us on Instagram.
> Due to the current limited nature of music titles, ALL CD & Vinyl purchases are limited to FOUR copies per customer, per item. If you place multiple orders for multiples of the same title, your subsequent orders will be canceled.
This programme of previously unrecorded works illustrates a highly distinctive aspect of Nikos Skalkottas as a composer: The 'neoclassical' Skalkottas goes hand in hand with the 'national' and the 'modernist' composer, the common denominators being perfect architecture of form, harmonic refinement and skillful orchestration. The opening Sinfonietta in B flat major is a typical example of the composer's 'neoclassical' side. In four movements and with a duration of 25 minutes, it was written in 1948, during Skalkottas's final years. It is followed by the Suite for Violin and Chamber Orchestra and the Concerto for Violin, Piano and Orchestra, examples of the composer's atonal idiom. Both works were among the many that disappeared after the composer left Berlin in 1933. The remaining pieces demonstrate Skalkottas's involvement with the project of exploring the traditional music of Greece. The Cretan folk song Digenés in his Last Agony was transcribed and harmonized by Skalkottas - for this release a recording from 1930 of the voice of Eleftherios Venizelos, the Greek Prime Minister at the time, has been superimposed over the newly recorded orchestral accompaniment. The two marches are original compositions, but follow Greek models, while the Nine Greek Dances are Skalkottas's orchestrations of published folk songs. Simple and functional, they are in no way reminiscent of his great work, the 36 Greek Dances for large orchestra, but still reveal the composer's refined aesthetic approach. In a labor of love, the music is performed by conductor Byron Fidetzis and violinist Georgios Demertzis, who have both made important contributions to the Skalkottas discography, as well as pianist Vassilis Varvaresos and the Athens Philharmonia Orchestra, making their first appearance on BIS.
Tracklist:
- Sinfonietta In B-Flat Major, Ak 10 (Ed. Y. Samprovalakis): I. Andante Sostenuto - Allegro
- Sinfonietta In B-Flat Major, Ak 10 (Ed. Y. Samprovalakis): II. Andantino Triste
- Sinfonietta In B-Flat Major, Ak 10 (Ed. Y. Samprovalakis): III. Scherzino. Molto Vivace
- Sinfonietta In B-Flat Major, Ak 10 (Ed. Y. Samprovalakis): IV. Finale. Vivacissimo
- Concerto For Violin, Piano & Orchestra, Ak 21 (Orch. Y. Samprovalakis): I. Allegro Giusto
- Concerto For Violin, Piano & Orchestra, Ak 21 (Orch. Y. Samprovalakis): II. Andante Sostenuto
- Concerto For Violin, Piano & Orchestra, Ak 21 (Orch. Y. Samprovalakis): III. Allegro Vivo
- Concerto For Violin, Piano & Orchestra, Ak 21 (Orch. Y. Samprovalakis): IV. Andante Sostenuto
- Concerto For Violin, Piano & Orchestra, Ak 21 (Orch. Y. Samprovalakis): V. Allegro
- Little Suite, Ak 23 (Orch. Y. Samprovalakis): I. Allegro Moderato
- Little Suite, Ak 23 (Orch. Y. Samprovalakis): II. Moderato Maestoso
- Little Suite, Ak 23 (Orch. Y. Samprovalakis): III. Allegretto Vivace
- Little Suite, Ak 23 (Orch. Y. Samprovalakis): IV. Andante Sostenuto
- Digenés In His Last Agony (Transcr. N. Skalkottas) [Orch. Y. Samprovalakis]
- Ancient Greek March, Ak 11d
- March In D Major
- The Vlach Woman (Orch. N. Skalkottas) [Ed. Y. Samprovalakis]
- The Maypole (Orch. N. Skalkottas) [Ed. Y. Samprovalakis]
- Mount Pelion Dance (Orch. N. Skalkottas) [Ed. Y. Samprovalakis]
- High Up On Kostilata (Orch. N. Skalkottas) [Ed. Y. Samprovalakis]
- Corfiot Dance (Orch. N. Skalkottas) [Ed. Y. Samprovalakis]
- Up The Street (Orch. N. Skalkottas) [Ed. Y. Samprovalakis]
- Lioúlios (Orch. N. Skalkottas) [Ed. Y. Samprovalakis]
- Paraskevoúla (Orch. N. Skalkottas) [Ed. Y. Samprovalakis]
- Physoúni (Orch. N. Skalkottas) [Ed. Y. Samprovalakis]
UPC > 7318599924342
Format > New CD
Label > Bis
Shop online at Darkside Records.
Follow us on Instagram.
> Due to the current limited nature of music titles, ALL CD & Vinyl purchases are limited to FOUR copies per customer, per item. If you place multiple orders for multiples of the same title, your subsequent orders will be canceled.