Berlioz and Bruckner

RECORDINGS OF THE WORKS

Hector Berlioz: Les nuits d'été, op. 7

Watch on NRK TV (1987)More recordings on Kulturbase

Anton Bruckner: Symfoni nr. 4 i Ess-dur, WAB 104 «Den romantiske»

Listen on NRK Radio (2018)More recordings on Kulturbase

Videos from Kulturbase

Address

Munkedamsveien 14,
0115 Oslo

Berlioz and Bruckner

Description

Hear Joyce DiDonato with the Oslo-filharmonien Joyce DiDonato is one of the most sought-after mezzo-soprano stars of our time, and now you can hear her together with the Oslo-filharmonien. She sings Berlioz' Les nuits d'été, an intimate and vulnerable portrayal of love and loss that stands in sharp contrast to the composer's better-known grandiose orchestral works. Together with Bruckner's Fourth Symphony, this becomes an evening where the innermost chamber of Romanticism meets its most radiant facade. Programme: Berlioz: Les nuits d’été Hector Berlioz (1803-1869) often wrote about his own music in diaries and letters. About the song cycle Les nuits d’été, however, there is little. It was composed around 1840, and the original version for light voice and piano was performed in the summer of 1841. This was a turbulent period in Berlioz' life: his first marriage was coming to an end, at the same time as he met the woman who later became his second wife. At the same time he was also criticised for only writing grandiose works for symphony orchestra. The six songs in Les nuits d’été show another side of him. They are more intimate and look at love from different perspectives. The loss of love is a recurring theme in the song cycle. Perhaps Berlioz therefore felt that the message of the work was clear enough in itself, without need for further explanation. Bruckner: Symphony No. 4 In Symphony No. 4 the listener gets close to the soul of Anton Bruckner (1824-1896) himself. He gave the symphony the nickname "Romantic", which underlines the glow and romance of the music. The work begins with a horn solo that invites us into an atmosphere free of worries, beautiful tonal colours and delight. The cheerful mood of the symphony was not easy for Bruckner to write. The first version of the symphony was presented in 1874, but it was not until 1881, after major revisions, that the symphony was given its premiere. The premiere was an immediate success and marked Bruckner's great career breakthrough. Symphony No. 4 is still one of his most frequently played works. Performers: Eivind Aadland, conductor Joyce DiDonato, mezzo-soprano