Weinberg

by Wen-Sinn Yang, Tassilo Probst, Daniel Grossmann, Jewish Chamber Orchestra Munich

Overview

Mieczyslaw Weinberg's music has seen increasingly frequent performances as his works in a Shostakovich vein stand up well when paired with those of his mentor. Like Shostakovich, the heavy-handed presence of the Soviet state hangs over dark, mordant music like the third movement of the Concertino for cello and orchestra, Op. 43bis, heard here. Weinberg arguably had it even worse than Shostakovich, being imprisoned at the end of Stalin's life and experiencing the death of his father at the hands of the secret police. However, as more of his music emerges, other strains become visible and audible, and some are explored in this fine release by the Jewish Chamber Orchestra of Munich. One is the use of materials derived from the composer's Jewish background, which show up in all the works here except for the final Symphony No. 7, Op. 81. The Jewish materials are used in various ways; sample the last part of the Rhapsody on Moldavian Themes, Op. 47, No. 3, where it offers a rousing finale. The Symphony No. 7 likewise diverges from Shostakovich; it is a neoclassical work with a prominent harpsichord part and a complex, oversized finale that's unlike anything Shostakovich ever wrote. This album is worth one's money and time for that movement alone, but the performances are excellent throughout, with strong turns from violinist Tassilo Probst and cellist Wen-Sinn Yang in the two concertos. This is a valuable release that delves deeply into the essence of a still imperfectly understood 20th century composer. ~ James Manheim

Product Details

Release Date:	09/29/2023
Label:	Onyx Classics
UPC:	0880040423720
Rank:	36405

Tracks

1. Concertino for cello and string orchestra Op. 43bis~I. Adagio
2. Concertino for cello and string orchestra Op. 43bis~II. Moderato espressivo
3. Concertino for cello and string orchestra Op. 43bis~III. Allegro vivace
4. Concertino for cello and string orchestra Op. 43bis~IV. Adagio - Adagio tempo primo
5. Concertino for violin and string orchestra Op. 42~I. Allegretto cantabile
6. Concertino for violin and string orchestra Op. 42~II. Cadenza: Lento - Adagio
7. Concertino for violin and string orchestra Op. 42~III. Allegro moderato poco rubato
8. Rhapsody on Moldavian Themes Op. 47 No. 3 for violin and orchestra
9. Symphony No. 7 in C Op. 81 for harpsichord and string orchestra~I. Adagio sostenuto
10. Symphony No. 7 in C Op. 81 for harpsichord and string orchestra~II. Allegro - Adagio sostenuto
11. Symphony No. 7 in C Op. 81 for harpsichord and string orchestra~III. Andante
12. Symphony No. 7 in C Op. 81 for harpsichord and string orchestra~IV. Adagio sostenuto
13. Symphony No. 7 in C Op. 81 for harpsichord and string orchestra~V. Allegro - Adagio sostenuto

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Tassilo Probst   Primary Artist,Violin
Wen-Sinn Yang   Primary Artist,Cello
Daniel Grossmann   Primary Artist,Conductor
Jewish Chamber Orchestra Munich   Primary Artist,Orchestra
Andreas Skouras   Harpsichord

Technical Credits

Matthias Lehmann   Liner Note Translation
Sebastian Kienel   Engineer,Producer
Christian Starke   Engineer,Producer,Mastering
Matthew Cosgrove   Executive Producer
Mieczyslaw Weinberg   Composer
Daniel Grossmann   Liner Notes