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Lindberg: Expo; Piano Concerto No. 2; Al Largo

Lindberg / Ny Philharmonic / Gilbert
Release Date: 05/28/2013 
Label:  Dacapo   Catalog #: 8226076   Spars Code: DDD 
Composer:  Magnus Lindberg
Performer:  Yefim Bronfman
Conductor:  Alan Gilbert
Orchestra/Ensemble:  New York Philharmonic
Number of Discs: 1 
Recorded in: Stereo 
Length: 1 Hours 3 Mins. 

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Notes and Editorial Reviews


When was the last time a composer in residence at a major orchestra produced three first-rate pieces? Here is your answer. Magnus Lindberg is unquestionably one of our very greatest living composers, and he can be heard here at the top of his form. EXPO is a brilliant overture that makes telling use of the simple opposition of fast and slow music. It makes a great concert-opener and calling-card for some of the exciting things happening in contemporary music today. Al largo is a seascape, and a very atmospheric one at that. There are moments when Lindberg’s “dirty secret”, his love of Ravel, is very apparent, nowhere more so than where he quotes (quite literally) the opening of the Mother Goose Read more ballet. Although Lindberg’s style is based more on harmony and texture than on melody, much of the music is lyrically captivating, and it’s all just gorgeous.

The Second Piano Concerto also has its Ravel-like moments. Lindberg likens his two concertos to the pair by the French composer, with this one inspired by the Concerto for the Left Hand. The resemblance is merely conceptual, having more to do with the music’s depth of sonority and luminous textures than with any other audible resemblance. I am so glad that Lindberg had the guts simply to call the piece “Piano Concerto No. 2? rather than making up some pointless name, like “Galactic Convulsions” or some such nonsense. The work has sufficient individuality just being what it is: a great piece of music, superbly played by Yefim Bronfman and, as with all these works, magnificently conducted by Alan Gilbert at the helm of the always virtuosic New York Philharmonic.

The engineering is also amazingly lifelike and the live audience more than usually quiet coming from this source. If you care at all about the best contemporary music, you will be delighted to own this remarkable disc.

-- David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday.com
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Works on This Recording

1.
EXPO, for orchestra by Magnus Lindberg
Conductor:  Alan Gilbert
Orchestra/Ensemble:  New York Philharmonic
Period: Contemporary 
Written: 2009 
 Date of Recording: 09/16/2009 
Venue:  Live  Avery Fischer Hall, Lincoln Center, New 
Length: 10 Minutes 7 Secs. 
2.
Piano Concerto No. 2 by Magnus Lindberg
Performer:  Yefim Bronfman (Piano)
Conductor:  Alan Gilbert
Orchestra/Ensemble:  New York Philharmonic
Period: Contemporary 
Written: 2011-2012 
 Date of Recording: 05/03/2012 
Venue:  Live  Avery Fischer Hall, Lincoln Center, New 
Length: 11 Minutes 49 Secs. 
3.
Al largo, for orchestra by Magnus Lindberg
Conductor:  Alan Gilbert
Orchestra/Ensemble:  New York Philharmonic
Period: Contemporary 
Written: 2009-2010 
 Date of Recording: 06/23/2010 
Venue:  Live  Avery Fischer Hall, Lincoln Center, New 
Length: 23 Minutes 43 Secs. 

Customer Reviews

Average Customer Review:  ( 2 Customer Reviews )
 Vivid 21st Century music November 9, 2013 By Dean Frey See All My Reviews "Magnus Lindberg brings both Romantic and modernist themes and tropes into the 21st century in the three works included on this Da Capo disc. It's encouraging to see such impressive new music being presented to audiences of one of America's great orchestras, especially considering the relatively warm response from those in attendance during these live recordings. The 2nd Piano Concerto was written as a large-scale work for Yefim Bronfman, and he plays it with the requisite heroic gusto. The other two works - Al Largo and EXPO - are also vivid. They demand attention, and Alan Gilbert brings out the orchestra's fire and virtuosity to splendid effect. It's great that such an interesting composer as Magnus Lindberg has this kind of support for his new music. Kudos to the New York Philharmonic, Alan Gilbert and Da Capo for bringing it to us." Report Abuse
 New masterworks from New York June 21, 2013 By Ralph Graves (Hood, VA) See All My Reviews "Finnish composer Magnus Lindberg served as the New York Philharmonic's Composer-in-Residence for three years. As this new recording attests, it was time well-spent. The release features three live recordings of Alan Gilbert and the New York Philharmonic performing music Lindberg composed for them. And what compositions! <br /> <br /> Lindberg's second piano concerto, finished in 2012, is a lush, post-modern work that never lets up on the drama. The roiling piano solo (effectively executed in this performance by Yefim Bronfman) has some of the quality Liszt and Rachmaninov, cast in a more advanced tonal language. This is an expansive and powerful work, and one that has the potential to become a repertoire standard. <br /> <br /> Framing the piano concerto on the disc are two shorter works for orchestra. EXPO (2009) is a bristling showpiece that serves as an exciting and appealing curtain-raiser. Al largo (2009) is a more substantial work. It begins with a heroic fanfare, then as thematic crosscurrents play across the orchestra, the work seems to shimmer with continual motion. The combination and recombination of instruments and sections the instruments keeps Al largo moving along until the listener arrives at its unexpected -- but in retrospect quite logical -- finish. <br /> <br /> The works, the performances, and the recording itself is all top-notch. A triumph all the way around." Report Abuse
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