John McCabe: Edward II (Ballettmusik) on 2 CDs
Edward II (Ballettmusik)
Conventional CD, playable with all CD players and computer drives, but also with most SACD or multiplayers.
- Artists:
- Royal Ballet Sinfonia, Wordsworth
- Label:
- Hyperion
- Year of recording ca.:
- 99
- Item number:
- 2287454
- UPC/EAN:
- 0034571171357
- Release date:
- 12.5.2000
Product-Information:
Edward II ruled medieval England between 1307 and 1327 and is most commonly remembered for his unrestrained favouritism for certain courtiers. The most extreme cases were those of Piers Gaveston and Hugh Despenser, with whom many modern historians now allege that he had homosexual relationships.
The ballet was created by renowned choreographer, David Bintley, from the play by Christopher Marlowe—probably the greatest of Shakespeare's rival playwrights—and focuses on the relationships between Edward and his Queen Isabella, Edward and Piers Gaveston and Isabella and Mortimer, displayed by an inventive and highly-charged score.
McCabe reflects the medieval period using various ancient-sounding melodies, such as the plainchant dirge that accompanies the funerals of Edward I at the opening and Edward II at the end. However, he mixes old with new. To create the desired effect an electric guitar is used to underscore particular moments of tension.
The work was successfully premiered by the Stuttgart Ballet in Germany in 1995 and David Bintley brought Edward II with him on taking up the directorship of Birmingham Royal Ballet in 1997, which company revived his production and toured it around Britain in 1998-9, attracting great critical acclaim and two awards. This is John McCabe's third original ballet score.
Rezensionen
'A gripping score. This exciting recording of such a rich creation brings the atmosphere of the stage leaping out of the speakers' (Birmingham Post)
'Stirringly dramatic, strikingly colourful ... it is good to see McCabe's recent 60th birthday being marked by a number of fine new recordings. This could prove the most widely popular of them all.' (International Record Review)
'A fine performance and excellent presentation make this an essential issue for anybody interested in McCabe's music' (Classic CD)
'Barry Wordsworth gets committed playing from the Royal Ballet Sinfonia ... the best playing they have produced on disc to date. Notes are excellent, as is the recorded sound ... a real winner' (Fanfare, USA)
Disk 1 von 2 (CD)
Edward II (Ballett) (1993/94)
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1 Funeral cortège of Edward I - Adagio (1. Akt, 1. Szene)
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2 Gaveston
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3 The "Fauvel' troupe" - Allegro giocoso
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4 Coronation of Edward II
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5 The barons' anger at Gaveston - Allegro agitato
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6 Isabella in her chamber - Lento (2. Szene)
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7 Isabella and Edward quarrel - Marcato
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8 Edward and Gaveston - pas de deux
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9 The barons - Maestoso e deciso
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10 Outdoor scene - Andantino pastorale (3. Szene)
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11 The "Fauvel' tropue" - Allegro giocoso
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12 Isabella and Mortimer - Lento
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13 Werstling Match - Allegro poco pesante
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14 Grim Reaper and Civil War - Adagio (4. Szene)
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15 The hunt for Gaveston - Allegro scorrevole
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16 Edward's grief - Adagio (5. Szene)
Disk 2 von 2 (CD)
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1 Execution of Warwick and Lancaster - Lento (2. Akt, 1. Szene)
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2 Edward's anxiety an the Prince's journey to France
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3 The French Court - Allegretto (2. Szene)
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4 The Prince and Philippa - Moderato
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5 Mortimer and Isabella - Allegro vigoroso
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6 The "She-Wolf of France" - Allegro poco pesante
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7 Edward and Despenser hide - Lento (3. Szene)
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8 Edward's arraignment and abdication
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9 Edward is led to prison
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10 Edward in prison - Lento, molto calmo (4. Szene)
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11 Lightborn and Edward - Andante calmo
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12 Mortimer and Isabella's triumphant - pas de deux - Adagio
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13 Arrest of Mortimer and Isabella - Moderato feroce
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14 Funeral cortège of Edward II - Adagio (5. Szene)
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