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Mark Thomas   04/11/2003	Subject: Off topic: Scharwenka Symphony Message: Hi, In a previous thread we chewed over Xaver Scharwenka's music in a generally positive way. The good news is that Swedish label Sterling have just recorded his Symphony, an overture and another piece for release next year. Cheers,
FERNANDO OLIVA   05/11/2003	RE: Off topic: Scharwenka Symphony IP: Logged Message: Dear Mark, I have two Scharwenka Piano Concerts, both very good, however the 3rd. is for me better than the 2nd. About his Symphony, What´s your expert opinion on style, orchestration, etc.? I´m very interesting on your judgement. Leave me to say, yesterday I have bought Korngold Symphony in F-sharp. Is a very wonderful American Symphony (wrote in US in 1952 and dedicated to Fran klin D. Roosevelt), with a glimmering orchestration in the best Strauss style however is, for a moments, semi-atonal. Thanks in andvance and Kind regards from Barcelona,
Mark Thomas   06/11/2003	RE: Off topic: Scharwenka Symphony IP: Logged Message: Hi Fernado, I'm afraid that I have no opinion on the Scharwenka symphony as I have never seen the score nor heard a note of it! I'm just looking forward to it because I find his four piano concerti hugely enjoyable. As for the Korngold, I'm rather fond of that too. I quite like the semi-atonal grittiness amidst all the Straussian sweetness. It's like eating a sweet/sour food - the contrast is the thing! Best wishes...
Jamie   06/11/2003	RE: Off topic: Scharwenka Symphony IP: Logged Message: I have seen the score of the Scharwenka symphony. It looks like a magnificent c minor work in the Beethovenian mold.
Mark Thomas   06/11/2003	RE: Off topic: Scharwenka Symphony IP: Logged Message: My appetite is even more whetted! I see that it is op.60 which puts it just after the 2nd. concerto and some way before the 3rd. (op.80). This from a useful website covering both Scharwenka brothers, the url of which is: http://members.aol.com/etrenkner/index.htm Now all we have to do is wait for Bo Hyttner to release the recording.
Jonathan 14/11/2003	RE: Off topic: Scharwenka Symphony IP: Logged Message: Concerning Scharwenka, I emailed Hyperion to see if there were any plans to continue the piano recordings seeing as they have the rites to the volumes that were released on Collins (now released on Helios). They unfortunately said "no plans at present" but seemed rather negatice about the idea. I agree about the piano concerti, they are all excellent, IMHO. Also glad to hear someone has recorded the Symphony - I look forward to getting hold of a copy!
Peter Conole   07/3/2004	RE: Off topic: Scharwenka Symphony IP: Logged Message: Any news on when the Scharwenka symphony will appear? His piano concertos are superb. His 'big brother' Fillip made the CD range recently with an MDG recording of some chamber music. The piano quintet is very fine. And Fillip also composed a couple of symphonies...
Mark   07/3/2004	RE: Off topic: Scharwenka Symphony IP: Logged Message: I hear, but from whom I can't remember, that Sterling will release a couple of other CDs before this one hits the shelves....
Mark 22/3/2004	RE: Off topic: Scharwenka Symphony IP: Logged Message: The details of the upcoming Scharwenka symphony release are: Symphony in C minor op.60 Andante Religioso WoO Overture in C minor WoO Malmö Opera Orchestra coducted by Christopher Fifield Sterling CDS-1060-2 The Sterling website (www.sterling.ch) doesn't mention it yet but it is now being advertised by a Swedish CD store (www.toccata.nu/cd-label/sterling/CDS-1060.html) which shows a picture of the cover, too.
Martin Eastick   21/4/2004	RE: Off topic: Scharwenka Symphony IP: Logged Message: Having been involved with this Sterling recording project last year, I can say that Chris Fifield is looking to present an all-Scharwenka live concert in December 2004 to include the Symphony, Overture, and the 2nd Piano Concerto with Seta Tanyel as soloist. This would be with the Lambeth Orchestra at their usual venue - St Luke's, West Norwood,in South London. This project has still to be finalised and i know that there is some concern in certain quarters that there won't be a large enough turnout for such an "unknown" one-composer evening, but if there is sufficient interest shown at this stage we may be able to persuade the "doubters" that this should go ahead nevertheless! I will be happy to supply further confirmation as and when available and stress that anyone and everyone would be most welcome!!
Mark   21/4/2004	RE: Off topic: Scharwenka Symphony IP: Logged Message: Well, Martin, wild horses won't stop me being there!
FERNANDO OLIVA   21/4/2004	RE: Off topic: Scharwenka Symphony IP: Logged Message: How I envy you! Seta Tanyel played the Scharwenka Piano Concertos from the Hyperion releases. (I think the conductor from the Piano Concertos was Theodor Strugala) Best Wishes, Fernando.
Jamie   21/4/2004	RE: Off topic: Scharwenka Symphony IP: Logged Message: Now, if we could only get American orchestras to do the same! Actually, Stephen Hough played the 4th concerto with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra in 3/96 (which I was not able to see as I'd moved to PA 2 weeks prior to the concert). BTW, Martin, I'd like to thank you for providing such erudite and informative liner notes on the Seta Tanyel recordings. Have you considered writing a biography, similar to Christopher Fifield's excellent one on Max Bruch? Fernando, the conductor on the 2/3 recording was Tadeusz Strugala.
Mark   23/4/2004	RE: Off topic: Scharwenka Symphony IP: Logged Message: Germany's mail and internet retailer, jpc are now selling the Sterling CD (CDS-1060-2)of the Scharwenka Symphony and there's a review of the disk on ClassicMusicWeb at: www.musicweb.uk.net/classrev/2004/Apr04/scharwenka.htm
christopher fifield   24/4/2004	RE: Off topic: Scharwenka Symphony IP: Logged Message: Just stumbled across this site and read your correspondence with interest (and thanks to Jamie for the praise for my Bruch biography too). The Scharwenka symphony is an excellent work, I enjoyed conducting it immensely, and the orchestra loved playing it. Incidentally the orchestra on the Sterling disc which is now out is the Gavle Symphony Orchestra, not Malmo, with which I conducted the Cliffe work. Martin, I am going ahead with a full evening of Scharwenka on December 18th, so please all of you correspondents and Scharwenka lovers, come and justify my programming and attend the concert at St Luke's Church, West Norwood, London SE27 at 7.30, when we'll start with the Overture (1869), Piano Concerto,No.2 (Seta Tanyel) and the Symphony.
Jamie   24/4/2004	RE: Off topic: Scharwenka Symphony IP: Logged Message: So Christopher, when you are you going to write a Scharwenka biography (or possibly translate his "Klänge aus meinem Leben" as Martin Eastick suggested to me)? "Klänge aus meinem Leben" is a great autobiography, and is filled with wonderful anecdotes as Scharwenka rubbed shoulders with everyone of musical importance during his career. I have the original 1922 edition which is unfortunately printed in almost impossible-to-decipher Fraktur.
christopher fifield   25/4/2004	RE: Off topic: Scharwenka Symphony IP: Logged Message: Curiously you are not the first person, Jamie, to suggest that I translate XS's autobiography, which I also have. I have toyed with the idea but would prefer to fulfil other projects of a more original nature before doing it. Yes it would be pioneering and help non-German readers, or even Germans who cannot read Gothic script, but I have other fish to fry first. But I'll keep thinking about it. I also need a publisher. I assume you know of Matthias Schneider-Dominco's recent book published by Henle, but that's more a bibliographical list of XS music, not a biography, and of course in German, not English.
Mark   25/4/2004	RE: Off topic: Scharwenka Symphony IP: Logged Message: At the risk of posting and "Off topic" Off topic: Christopher, whilst we have your attention, what are the chances of you recording Cliffe's 2nd. Symphony and Violin Concerto for Sterling? The 1st. seems to have created a modest stir and was pretty enthusiastically received even by reviewers, let alone romantic-byways enthusiasts. Thanks for the confirmation of the December 18 concert, BTW, which I'll certainly attend. A great shame that I'll be in Switzerland listening to Raff's 2nd. Violin Concerto when you play the Bruch 2nd. Symphony (mentioned in another thread). As Jamie wrote, a most impressive work.
christopher fifield   25/4/2004	RE: Off topic: Scharwenka Symphony IP: Logged Message: I see that I am breaking the rules of the Raff site by writing off-topic, so I'll make this my last one to you all and wish you well. Not that I don't like Raff I hasten to say, and am always threatening my orchestra with my favourite, the 3rd symphony. If you create a site for non-Raff discussion about post 1850 Romantic raritiies, let me know and I'll continue to contribute if asked. A last reply though to you Mark. The Cliffe 2nd symphony is in a messy state regarding cuts and inconsistencies between score and parts particularly in the Finale. I have the material and will have to do a lot of work on it. As to the Violin Concerto, I know of the whereabouts of the parts, the solo part but regrettably no one has located a full score. Any ideas?
Mark   25/4/2004	RE: Off topic: Scharwenka Symphony IP: Logged Message: Thanks for that Christopher. I live in hope... There's no need to avoid non-Raff postings, BTW. Just preface them with "Off Topic:" and the Raff Forum police will return their whistles to their pockets! Cheers,