Composer: Leonard Bernstein, John Towner Williams
Performer: James Ehnes
Orchestra: Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra
Conductor: Stéphane Denève
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Pentatone
Catalogue: PTC5187148
Release: 2024
Size: 1.09 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
Bernstein: Serenade (after Plato’s ‘Symposium’)
01. I. Phaedrus. Pausanias. Lento and Allegro
02. II. Aristophanes. Allegretto
03. III. Eryximachus. Presto
04. IV. Agathon. Adagio
05. V. Socrates. Alcibiades. Molto tenuto – Allegro molto vivace
Williams: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in Memory of B.R.W.
06. I. Moderato
07. II. Slowly. In peaceful contemplation
08. III. Broadly. Maestoso – Quickly
The St. Louis Symphony and their Stephane Deneve present a wonderful program featuring two of the most accomplished American composers in history: Leonard Bernstein with his and John Williams with his Concerto for violin and orchestra, both performed by star James Ehnes, one of the most exceptional North American violinists. John Williams himself was present at the recording o his violin concerto, working togetherwith the St. Louis Symphony, Deneve, and Ehnes. Both works evolve around love: Bernstein’s Serenade was inspired by musings on love from Plato’s Symposium while Williams’s work was arguably inspired and eventually dedicated to his suddenly deceased wife. By combining these two concert pieces, this album puts the symphonic work of Bernstein and Williams at the center, two composers who weren’t afraid of crossing the boundaries between film music and “serious” classical genres at a time when these worlds were generally kept far apart. Especially in Williams’ concerto, there are still hints of his work as a film composer; the slow movement brings to mind a scene of emotional gravity.