Mortelmans - Homerische Symfonie & other orchestral works - Hyperion: CDA67766 - download

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Colourful and dramatic - three orchestral works worthy of revival in the concert hall. …Mortelmans's scoring is full of colour and drama… Throughout the programme, the richness of the orchestration... — Gramophone Magazine, November 2009 More…

Release Date: 28th Sep 2009
Catalogue No: CDA67766
Label: Hyperion
Length: 66 minutes

Mortelmans: Homerische symfonie

Work length43:12

$4.40

$6.00

Royal Flemish Philharmonic
Martyn Brabbins

I. Van de helden 'Of the heroes'

Track length11:00

$1.10

$1.50

II. Herinneringen aan Patroklos' dood 'Memories of Patroklos's death'

Track length11:47

$1.10

$1.50

III. Sirenengespeel en gezang 'Sirens playing and singing'

Track length11:41

$1.10

$1.50

IV. De genius van Hellas 'The genius of Hellas'

Track length8:44

$1.10

$1.50

Mortelmans: Morgenstemming 'Morning Mood'

Work length12:42

$1.10

$1.50

Royal Flemish Philharmonic
Martyn Brabbins

Mortelmans: Mythe der lente 'Myth of Spring'

Work length10:47

$1.10

$1.50

Royal Flemish Philharmonic
Martyn Brabbins

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About

Flemish music has a rather unusual position in the history of nineteenth-century music, in that orchestral and symphonic music were almost completely subordinated to vocal music. There was little expertise in instrumental music, and this concentration on vocal works (which was seen as part of an inherited French culture) got in the way of the development of an orchestral tradition. However, occasionally a figure would appear who broke the mould. Lodewijk Mortelmans (1868–1952) was one of those responsible for the Flemish orchestral renaissance, and who looked with curiosity beyond the Belgian borders. He won the Prix de Rome in 1893, and used the prize money to travel to Germany and Italy to broaden his cultural experience. As a music correspondent he wrote about performances in Bayreuth and kept his finger on the pulse of European musical life. He wished to create an autonomous, ‘Flemish’ symphonic culture, while also appealing beyond its boundaries by choosing ‘extramusical’ subjects with a more universal agenda than Flemish nationalist topics.

One cannot accuse Mortelmans of being musically avant-garde or adventurous: he was aware that European classical music was following a new, atonal and even serial path, but right up to his death he was unwilling to abandon his romantic signature. But he perfected his traditional approach and his music is deeply attractive, showing the influence of both Sibelius and Wagner. A selection of his greatest works for orchestra are recorded here. Hyperion regular Martyn Brabbins conducts the Royal Flemish Philharmonic in their first recording for Hyperion.

Reviews

November 2009

Colourful and dramatic - three orchestral works worthy of revival in the concert hall. …Mortelmans's scoring is full of colour and drama… Throughout the programme, the richness of the orchestration readily holds the listener's attention, especially in such responsive performances from the Royal Flemish Philharmonic under the highly sympathetic Martyn Brabbins, well projected by a splendidly spacious Hyperion recording.

27th December 2009

Lush, melodic and romantic...As for the grand, rhapsodic Homeric Symphony, it's epic.

Mortelmans - Homerische Symfonie & other orchestral works

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