‘900 – Strawinski, Weill, Stockhausen, Schoenberg. This CD refers to two unreleased recordings of concerts belonging to a private collection, held in the 1970s in Florence (Italy), at the Palazzo dei Congressi and at the Sala Vanni, home of the Musicus Concentus. These events took place under the aegis of this organization which at the time was mostly involved in staging classical music concerts. It also counted among its ranks well-known and renowned musicians who were often performers in the same musical events staged. In these recordings, for example, we can hear both the Musicians of the Musicus Concentus and the Quintetto Romano, born in 1970.
Musicus Concentus, on the other hand, was born in 1972 and is still an organization active in music and, since 1992, has focused its attention on jazz and new music.
The Audio Recordings
The music reproduced here relates to compositions by famous 20th century and contemporary artists.
On the CD we proposed the following pieces: the Histoire du Soldat of 1918 by Igor Strawinski (recorded at the Palazzo dei Congressi), the Violin Concerto soloist, wind and percussion instruments from 1924 by Kurt Weil l (recorded at the Palazzo dei Congressi), Adieu from 1966 by Karlheinz Stockhausen (recorded at the Vanni Hall) and 2 Canoni by Arnold Schoenberg (recorded at the Vanni Hall).
To carry out the audio recordings (authorized by the organizers), semi-professional amateur equipment was used. In fact, a Revox A77 tape-reel recorder (1/4-inch) and two Maruni electret microphones were used, positioned in direct stereo connection near the stage. First piece has some slight volume adjustments made necessary by the nature of the recording, then everything flows with regularity. The resulting sound is very present, straightforward, dynamic as well as musically and instrumentally very realistic although the solo violin in Kurt Weill’s Violin Concerto does not appear in the foreground due to an unexpected positioning of the musician with respect to the microphones. Tape was digitized and mastered with minimal interventions and without altering the dynamics of the original recording. In summary, the sound appears to be of excellent quality together with the valuable performance of the concert performers and the orchestral direction.
Currently this CD has not been released by us but you may listen the track number 5 from The Histoire du Soldat by Igor Strawinsky on our page Audio Playlist. Anyone interested in such material can contact us by email.
Antonio Bacchelli Conductor
Antonio Bacchelli graduated very young in piano and was a famous concert player as well as conductor. He died prematurely in 1986 following a car accident, he taught piano at the “Luigi Cherubini” Conservatory in Florence (Italy). In addition to his solo activity, Bacchelli also devoted himself to orchestral conducting, so much so that he was considered one of the greatest exponents of Italian concert music.
In these recordings we find him directing the Musicians of the Musicus Concentus in the two concerts by Igor Strawinski and Kurt Weill.
‘900 – Strawinski, Weill, Stockhausen, Schoenberg
Igor Strawinski – Histoire du Soldat
- Marche du soldat
- Musique de la 1ere scene
- Musique de la 2eme scene
- Marche Royale
- Petit Concert
- Trois dances (tango-valse-ragtime)
- Danse du Diable
- Grand Choral
- Marche triomphale du diable
Kurt Weill – Concerto per violino solista, strumenti a fiato e percussione
- Andante con moto
- Allegro un poco tenuto (notturno-cadenza-serenata)
- Allegro molto un poco agitato
Orchestra’s Conductor: Antonio Bacchelli
Solo Violinist: Cristiano Rossi
Musicians: Cristiano Rossi (violino), Pier Luigi Mencarelli (flauto), Sergio Gambi (flauto&ottavino), Guido Tagliabue (oboe), Attilio Zambelli (clarinetto), Michele Del Vicario (clarinetto), Alessandro Masi (fagotto), Raffaele Masini(fagotto), Enrico Caproni (corno), Aurelio Mannucci (corno), Salvatore Villani (contrabbasso), Andrea Capanni (contrabbasso), Germano Gavazzoli (percussione), Arrigo Melosi (tromba), Walter Carpano (trombone)
Karlheinz Stockhausen – Adieu
Musicians: Musicisti del Musicus Concentus
R.Benelli (sax)
Arnold Schoenberg – 2 Canoni
Quintetto Romano a fiati : Monica Berni (flauto), Carlo Romano (oboe), Franco Ferranti (clarinetto), Luciano Giuliani (corno), Sergio Romani (fagotto)
Update –