Henze: Symphonies Nos. 3-5

Janowski's performances are vivid and immediate, and make the old Deutsche Grammophon recordings, conducted by the composer, sound pallid in comparison. — The Guardian, 30th June 2011, 3 out of 5 stars

Release Date: 27th Jun 2011
Catalogue No: WER67232
Label: Wergo
Series: Marek Janowski Henze Complete Symphonies
Length: 65 minutes

Henze, H: Symphony No. 3

Work length23:49

$4.00

$5.60

Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra
Marek Janowski

I. Anrufung Apolls

Track length7:44

$1.50

$2.10

II. Dithyrambe

Track length10:36

$1.50

$2.10

III. Beschwörungstanz

Track length5:29

$1.00

$1.40

Henze, H: Symphony No. 4

Work length22:03

Album only

Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra
Marek Janowski

Henze, H: Symphony No. 5

Work length19:54

$4.00

$5.60

Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra
Marek Janowski

I. Movimentato

Track length7:37

$1.50

$2.10

II. Adagio

Track length5:17

$1.00

$1.40

III. Moto perpetuo

Track length7:00

$1.50

$2.10

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In his essay ‘Über Instrumentalkomposition’ of 1963 Hans Werner Henze states: "Everything moves toward the theatre and comes back from there.”

Henze's Symphonies 3, 4 and 5 move within this combination of theatre and symphonic music. The first approach is noticeable in Symphony No. 3: “I composed this piece (…) in an attempt to keep the notion of 'symphonic music' and the idea of classical and Romantic forms separate. Consequently, the listener is not supposed to look for those elements which were characteristic of 19th-century symphonies.”

Symphony No. 4 is concretely linked with Henze's own music-theatre works: originally, it constituted the finale of Act II of his opera König Hirsch/King Stag.

Symphony No. 5 is also connected to the theatre: A 'leitmotif' appearing in all three movements goes back to Henze's song 'My own, my own' from his opera Elegie für junge Liebende/Elegy for Young Lovers. As in Symphony No. 4, the music returns from the stage back to symphonic music.

Hans Werner Henze is the recipient of the German Music Authors' 2011 Lifetime Achievement Award.

According to the jurors: “Hans Werner Henze is a prominent figure in music who was and still is very active and influential outside German and European borders. A model for generations to come. He has composed music for all genres, taught pupils who have become very famous – everything has been marked by his unmistakable quality and identity.” Henze accepted the award personally during a formal presentation at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Berlin on 14 April 2011.

We offer Hans Werner Henze our hearty congratulations as he celebrates his 85th birthday on 1 July.

Reviews

30th June 2011

Janowski's performances are vivid and immediate, and make the old Deutsche Grammophon recordings, conducted by the composer, sound pallid in comparison.

Henze: Symphonies Nos. 3-5

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