Elliot Carter - Concerto for Orchestra (1992)

Even though Elliott Carter has been well served by a small New York-based group of devotees, most notably the pianists Paul Jacobs, Charles Rosen, Gilbert Kalish and Ursula Oppens and the Composers String Quartet, no American conductor has yet become a strong proponent of his orchestral works. But in recent years, major European conductors, like Pierre Boulez, Michael Gielen, Heinz Holliger and Oliver Knussen, have championed Carter's orchestral music, giving it a fresh international perspective. Whereas Americans hear his music in relation to that of Ives and Copland, Europeans place it in the context of Ligeti and Lutoslawski. A number of new recordings by Europeans as well as Americans offer performances that challenge earlier ones and may change the critical evaluation of Carter's works. An earlier recording, an unedited single take made shortly after the work's premiere in 1970 by Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic, offered only a tantalizing glimpse of the music. Despite opening-night jitters, Bernstein conveyed the work's sweep and drama, urged on by Paul Jacobs's demonic piano playing. Under Boulez's helm, the work was chosen for the European tour by the Philharmonic, but was never recorded. His account, though much more detailed and polished, lost some of the urgency. Knussen's recording of Carter's Concerto for Orchestra with the London Sinfonietta offers the greatest revelations to date.

Tracklist

Three Occasions for Orchestra (1986-9)
1 A Celebration of some 100 x 150 Notes
2 Remembrance
3 Anniversary

Violin Concerto (1990)
4 I. Impulsivo
5 II. Angosciato (violin); Tranquillo (orchestra)
6 III. Scherzando

Concerto for Orchestra (1969)
7 Introduction (Misterioso)
8 I. Allegro non troppo
9 II. Presto volando
10 III. Maestoso
11 IV. Allegro agitato
12 Coda (Allegro molto)

Ole Böhn, violin

London Sinfonietta
Oliver Knussen

Virgin Classics VC 7 91503-2