Category Archives: Anniversary

On this day in 1905 – the world premiere of Schoenberg’s Pelleas und Melisande

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by Ben Hogwood Picture by Richard Gerstl

On this day in 1905, the world premiere of Schoenberg’s orchestral piece Pelleas und Melisande took place, in Vienna’s Musikverein.

This is a remarkable piece, an example of Schoenberg’s ultra-intense style as he began to show signs of breaking with tonality. The story unfolds in an unbroken span of over 40 minutes, during which the large orchestra bathe in rich harmony and lush colouring on the part of the composer’s skilful instrumentation.

The piece can be heard here with the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra and David Markham:

On this day in 1945 – the world premiere of Prokofiev’s Fifth Symphony

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The 13th January 1945 saw the world premiere of one of the 20th century’s best-loved symphonies, conducted by its composer at the Great Hall of Moscow Conservatory. Sergei Prokofiev was the composer, with the USSR State Symphony Orchestra, giving the first performance of his Symphony no.5 in B flat major Op.100, intended to be “a hymn to free and happy Man, to his mighty powers, his pure and noble spirit”.

On the surface, the Fifth appears to be just that…with a healthy influence from the composer’s ballet scores, notably Romeo & Juliet. Yet scratch a little beneath the surface and there are compelling elements of darkness and acerbic wit, felt in the quickfire second movement Scherzo, with its macabre trio section, the deeply felt slow movement and – even more – the supposedly carefree finale.

The symphony is packed full of melody, delivered in Prokofiev’s typically chromatic but memorable style.

Published post no.2,410 – Monday 13 January 2025

In appreciation – Elvis Presley

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by Ben Hogwood Picture by RCA Records Fair use from Wikipedia

If he were still alive, Elvis Presley would have reached the grand age of 90 today.

We can’t possibly do justice to ‘The King’ in one post, but we can enjoy one of his very best songs, viewed through the prism of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in 2015. I’m not normally a fan of re-orchestrations, but this one is a beauty – and BBC Radio 2 must agree, for as I type this post they are playing the very same recording! Of course it’s Elvis who wins the day through sheer charisma, in a song that won’t fail to make you smile. That voice! Enjoy…

Published post no.2,405 – Wednesday 8 January 2025

On this day…the premiere of Respighi’s Pines of Rome

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On this day, 100 years ago, the first performance of Respighi‘s mighty descriptive suite Pines of Rome took place, with Bernardino Molinari conducting The Augusteo Orchestra of Rome.

Here is a legendary account from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Fritz Reiner:

Published post no.2,393 – Saturday 14 December 2024

On this day…four contrasting premieres by Lyadov, Ravel, Korngold and Britten

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by Ben Hogwood

Here are four very contrasting first performances from 12 December across history for you to enjoy. In 1909, the first performance of Lyadov’s Kikimora in St Petersburg:

In 1920 the first performance of Ravel’s La Valse at a Lamoureux Concert in Paris…

…and on the same day the first performance of Korngold’s Die tote stadt, in Hamburg and Cologne. Here is Marietta’s Lied, sung by Renée Fleming:

…and finally, on the same day in 1932, Leon Goossens and the International String Quartet gave the first performance of the teenage Benjamin Britten’s Phantasy Quartet Op.2, in London:

Published post no.2,391 – Thursday 12 December 2024