Casella: 5 Symphonic Fragments from Le couvent sur l'eau, Elegia eroica & Symphony No. 1 Gillian Keith, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra & Gianandrea Noseda

• Alfredo Casella (1883 - 1947): 5 Symphonic Fragments from "Le couvent sur l'eau", Op. 19:
• 1 5 Symphonic Fragments from "Le couvent sur l'eau", Op. 19: I. Marche de fête 03:36
• 2 5 Symphonic Fragments from "Le couvent sur l'eau", Op. 19: II. Ronde d'enfants 02:17
• 3 5 Symphonic Fragments from "Le couvent sur l'eau", Op. 19: IIIa. Con moto, molto appassionato - Barcarolle 04:12
• 4 5 Symphonic Fragments from "Le couvent sur l'eau", Op. 19: IIIb. Sarabande 05:38
• 5 5 Symphonic Fragments from "Le couvent sur l'eau", Op. 19: IV. Pas des vieilles dames 02:22
• 6 5 Symphonic Fragments from "Le couvent sur l'eau", Op. 19: V. Nocturne - Danse 05:21
• Elegia eroica in G Minor, Op. 29:
• 7 Elegia eroica in G Minor, Op. 29 15:08
• Symphony No. 1 in B Minor, Op. 5:
• 8 Symphony No. 1 in B Minor, Op. 5: I. Lento grave - Più mosso 10:33
• 9 Symphony No. 1 in B Minor, Op. 5: II. Adagio, quasi andante 09:57
• 10 Symphony No. 1 in B Minor, Op. 5: IIIa. Lento molto - Poco più mosso 05:49
• 11 Symphony No. 1 in B Minor, Op. 5: IIIb. Finale. Allegro vivo, energico 11:29
• Total Runtime 01:16:22

Info for Casella: 5 Symphonic Fragments from Le couvent sur l'eau, Elegia eroica & Symphony No. 1

The profile of the early 20th century composer, conductor and pianist Alfredo Gianandrea Noseda and the BBC Philharmonic here present a fourth captivating volume of orchestral works by Alfredo Casella, part of our ongoing Musica Italiana series.

In 1912, with his music for the ‘choreographic comedy’ Le Couvent sur l’eau, Casella demonstrated that stylistic versatility was no disadvantage for a ballet composer, and although Diaghilev turned down the work for the Ballets Russes, Casella selected the highly colourful and once popular ‘symphonic fragments’, heard here, for concert use.

Similarly, the Elegia eroica is stylistically eclectic, constructed, according to Casella, as a ‘vast triptych’, opening with a dissonant funeral march and ending with a comforting, tuneful lullaby. Casella wrote this piece, which he dedicated ‘to the memory of a soldier killed in the war’, after Italy had entered the First World War and suffered enormous losses.

The three-movement Symphony in B minor is an early work (1906) of creative energy and burning conviction, in which Casella’s enthusiasm for Russian music is revealed already in the sombre Mussorgskyan opening theme. This hypnotic first movement is almost pleasantly oppressive in comparison to the gentler, melodious second, and the bold final movement represents the adventurous exploits of an ambitious young composer.

"Gianandrea Noseda's Casella reappraisal for Chandos, among his most significant achievements to date, has radically shifted our perspectives on one of the finest if most neglected Italian composers of the post Puccini generation..."

"As with the series as a whole, the performances are exemplary. Noseda’s familiar combination of rigour and emotional extremism is in evidence throughout...Gillian Keith is the aptly glacial-sounding soprano, and the playing throughout is terrific in its intensity and panache. Highly recommended." (Gramophone Magazine)

"Another maligned musical voice…Casella has been well served in this fourth volume by Chandos, and by Noseda, who has a real feel for the quicksilver quirkiness herein" (Classical Music)

Gillian Keith, soprano
BBC Philharmonic
Gianandrea Noseda, condutor

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