George Tsontakis: Man of Sorrows für Klavier & Orchester on CD

Der 1951 in New York geborene George Tsontakis zählt zu den bekanntesten Vertretern der amerikanischen Gegenwartsmusik. Das knapp 40-minütige Werk »Man of Sorrows« zählt zu Tsontakis’ jüngsten Kompositionen. Es ist weniger ein Konzert als vielmehr eine Tondichtung für Klavier und Orchester mit abstrakter Handlung. Inspiriert von der byzantinischen Christus-Ikonografie erkundet Tsontakis in sechs Sätzen das Leiden Jesu. Das Werk ist hier in einem Mitschnitt von der Uraufführung aus dem Jahr 2005 zu hören. Den Solopart übernahm Stephen Hough, dem das Werk auch gewidmet ist. Ergänzt wird das Programm durch ausgewählte Klavierstücke der Zweiten Wiener Schule.

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Fresh from his conducting debut with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, the premiere of his cello concerto and the publication of his first book, Stephen Hough presents a new disc of fascinating repertoire. George Tsontakis is a giant of the American contemporary music scene and the recent winner of the prestigious Grawemeyer award and the Charles Ives Living. Hough’s recording of his Ghost Variations for Hyperion (CDA67005) was nominated for a Grammy. Man of Sorrows was written for Stephen Hough and was premiered in 2005. This recording is taken from the world premiere. The work demonstrates Tsontakis’ muscular, expressive musical language, influenced by Beethoven and Messiaen. Inspired by medieval Byzantine icons of Christ, the Man of Sorrows, the six-movement work explores in sound the composer’s response to the suffering and passion of Jesus as represented in these serene religious artworks. Hough himself has also written and spoken extensively on the relationship between religion and music and performs the work with extraordinary sympathy and understanding. George Tsontakis writes of his work: ‘By the time I began composing Man of Sorrows, I knew several things about it: that it would be cast in a religious dynamic and complexity, that Beethoven’s 33 ‘Diabelli’ Variations would play a part, that it would not be so much a ‘concerto’ as a tone poem for piano and orchestra with an abstract narrative, that it would be large-scale and that it would be dedicated to Stephen Hough, in essence and in spirit.’ This disc also includes iconic works from the Second Viennese School and a further piano work by Tsontakis.

Rezensionen

A masterfully conceived and performed disc of piano music that, while it will never be in the concert hall mainstream, will never, in great performance, exhibit less than searing power' (Buffalo News, USA)

'This is a serious work of substance and integrity, challenging and rewarding, provocative in the best possible sense. It is performed here with the utmost care and devotion' (American Record Guide)

'A five-star performance and recording' (Gramophone)

'Hough and the Dallas orchestra sound like a composer's dream team. There are many great recordings of Berg's post-Romantic thriller, but Hough's account has poetry of its own' (New Jersey Star Ledger, USA)