JUROWSKI: Symphony No. 5, Op. 39. Russian Painters (Symphonic Pictures for Full Orchestra).
Norrköpping Symphony Orc/Michail Jurowski, cond
CPO 777 875 TT: 73:46
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VILLA-LOBOS: Uirapuru. Symphony No. 12. Mandu-Carará.
São Paulo Symphony Orchestra and Chorus/Isaac Karabtchevsky, cond.
NAXOS 8.573451 TT: 57:42
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PEJACEVIC: Overture in D minor, Op. 49. Verwandlun, Op. 37. Liebeslied, Op. 39.Orchestral Songs. Piano Concerto in G minor, Op. 33.
Ingeborg /Danz, alto; Oliver Triendl, pano/Brandenburgisch Staatsorchester, Frankfurt/Howard Griffiths, cond.
CPO 777 916 TT: 49:50

ANDERSON: Various works arrnged for Band
Allentown Band/Ronald Demkee, cond.
ALLENTOWN BAND CD 119 TT: 72:06

This site has praised numerous recordings by the exciting young Russian conductor Michael Jurowski (b. 1979). Highly in demand in opera as well as with leading orchestras, he has won numerous honors and is now Principal Conductor of the London Philharmonic. The junior Mihael Jorowski has nothing to do with this new Jurowsky CD, but his father and grandfather do. Music runs in the family; his father was conductor Mikhael Jurowski (b. 1945), and he is the grand-son of Soviet film music composer Bladimir Michaelovich Jurowsky (1915-1972). A contemporary of Shostakovich and Khachaturian, he wrote much music for ballet and films. His music has been neglected, and this intriguing CPO CD offers music of the elder Jurowski conducted by his son, . The disk is poorly notated with typos and mis-information. ?The major work, the symphony, is listed on the cover as No. 5 although in the English notes it is called No. 4. The symphony has three movements and is big-scale with playing time of 45 minutes, far too long for its meager musical interest. Well orchestrated, it is lacking in cohesion. The third movement begin with a jaunty march that soon disappears followed by a sad lyrical interlude. The march then returns. the last few minutes of the work featuring a large organ. Also included are e seven brief "Russian Paintings" . based on works of various lesser-known painters. Some of the paintings are reproduced in the book, but, unfortunately, in black and white. Performances are excellent and do all that can be done for this music, and audio is excellent.

This site has praised previous Naxos recordings of symphonies by Villa-Lobos: Symphonies 3 and 4 (REVIEW), Symphonies 6 and 7 (REVIEW), and Symphony No. 10 (REVIEW). All of these feature the superb São Palo Symphony Orchestra directed by Isaac Karabtchevsky who are also featured on the latest CD that features Symphony No. 12 compose in 1957. This contains four rather brief movements, the third a lively scherzo, and as usual we have Villa-Lobos' rich orchestration. More interesting are the two other works, beginning with the familiar Uirapuru which many collectors first knew from the 1959 Stokowski recording (which eliminated the repeat of the opening section). It is a brilliant work with many unusual orchestral textures, the story of an exotic bird transformed into a human. The other work is Mandu-Cara, a celebration of dance with striking rhythms, colorful percussion and both adult and children's choruses. Theyy all seem to be having a great, boisterous time. The simple text for this is provided. An intriguing, unusual CD, highly recommended

Croation composer Dora Pejacevic (1885-!1923) is one of her country's leading composers, and CPO is doing what they can to provide collectors the opportunity to experience her music. Already they hove issued three disks of piano, chamber music, lieder and her Symphony in F sharp minor. I haven't heard any of these, but judging from what is on this latest release, I don't particularly wish to. The 6-minute overture is sprightly but unmemorable. The Piano Concerto suggests AAddinsell without the tunes.Most successful are the lieder well-sung by Ingeborg Pejacevic composed abut thirty songs and on this disk we hear the four she orchestrated. It is surprising that texts/translations are not included.

This site has mentioned a number of recordings of music of he legendary American" pop" composer Leroy Anderson who for many years was associated with the Boston "Pops" Orchestra. His music is clever and well written, a staple of pop concerts. There are outstanding recordings with the BBC Concert Orchestra directed by Leonard Slatkin (REVIEW), and Frederick Fennell's famous Mercury Living Presence performances also have been reissued (REVIEW). Should you wish to hear this repertory arranged for brass, here is a well-filled disk with the virtuoso orchestra in top form and splendid stereo sound.

R.E.B. (June 2015)