Category Archives: Orchestral

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:

Storms in music – Sibelius: Tapiola

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by Ben Hogwood

With the UK braced for the arrival of Storm Éowyn today, it got me thinking of successful portrayals of storms in music.

The first piece that came to mind was Sibelius’s masterpiece Tapiola, a remarkable and vivid orchestral poem written late in his compositional career about Tapio, the spirit of the forest. Its depiction of a storm is like no other.

Listen here, in a particularly incendiary account from the Berliner Philharmoniker and Herbert von Karajan, keeping an ear out for the storm as it begins around the 16:50 mark:

Published post no.2,421 – Friday 24 January 2025

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

On this day – Vassily Kalinnikov

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A slight liberty with ‘on this day’…but a chance to bring one of Russia’s lesser lights to the fore. Vassily Kalinnikov was born on 13 January 1866, and died on 11 January 1901 – a tragically early passing, thought to have been from tuberculosis.

In that short period of time he did however write a number of attractive orchestral pieces, headed by the Symphony no.1 in G minor, completed in 1895. You can listen below, a chance to admire Kalinnikov’s craft as a melodist and orchestrator – qualities his contemporary Tchaikovsky appears to have appreciated:

Published post no.2,409 – Sunday 12 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