George Chadwick - Symphony No.3; Samuel Barber - Vanessa (Excerpts); Medea's Meditation and Dance

George Whitefield CHADWICK (1854-1931)

Symphony No. 3 in F major 35:18

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Samuel BARBER (1910-1981)

Excertps from 'Vanessa' 6:42

 Music for a Scene from Shelley Op. 7 10:13

Medea's Meditation and Dance of Vengeance Op. 23a 13:00

Detroit Symphony Orchestra

Neeme Jarvi

Recorded in: Orchestra Hall, Detroit

16 January 1994 and 24-25 April 1993

This is a very fine recording by Neeme Järvi and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra of a symphony by little known American composer George Whitfield Chadwick (1854 - 1931) that comes as a most welcome addition to the recorded repertoire of American music. Although widely played in his lifetime (this Symphony No. 3 in F major actually won a prestigious prize in 1894 - the judge being Antonin Dvorak!), it, alas, does not appear on today's symphony programs. Chadwick proves to be a fine orchestrator and moves comfortably from light vivaces a la Felix Mendelssohn to languid and lush andantes that capitalize on the soaring urgency of the strings, to a finale that is as triumphant and laced with special percussive moments as those of any composers. Perhaps it is not a 'great' symphony, but to this listener it is one to revisit frequently as a newfound admirable friend.

The other works on the CD are by the venerable Samuel Barber. Two orchestral excerpts from his opera 'Vanessa' remind us of how rich in melody that 'soap opera' is. The agonizingly gorgeous 'Music for a Scene from Shelley' is given a stupendous performance under Järvi, and the concert concludes with the well known and much performed 'Medea's Meditation and Dance of Vengeance.' Interesting to elect to include Barber works for the theater (opera, drama, ballet) on one disc. But they pair well with the Chadwick symphony. This recording deserves the attention of those who hold American music in high esteem, as admittedly this listener does.

Recovery from old LDC posted by Simon Moreley