Moszkowski: From Foreign Lands is Available Today!
San Francisco Ballet Orchestra
Martin West
Moritz Moszkowski (1854-1925) is most known for his scintillating piano compositions. he also composed an opera, a full-length ballet, three orchestral suites, a symphony (still in manuscript form), songs, concertos, and chamber music—almost all of which remain neglected or forgotten. How unfortunate!
San Francisco Ballet Orchestra music director and principal conductor, Martin West, approached Reference Recordings with the hope that there were enough orchestral works by Moritz Moszkowski to record a CD-length program. After identifying and locating numerous scores, this project of re-discovering the music of Moritz Moszkowski became a reality. Using From Foreign Lands as a starting point, we were able to assemble an intriguing program of, largely, first recordings of Moszkowski’s most memorable and melodious orchestral compositions. This delightful program is the San Francisco Ballet Orchestra’s fourth release with Reference Recordings.
The San Francisco Ballet Orchestra is internationally recognized as one of the foremost ballet orchestras in the world. Since its 1975 performance debut accompanying SF Ballet’s Nutcracker (under Music Director Denis de Coteau), the Orchestra’s home has been the San Francisco War Memorial Opera House. At that time, the ensemble was credited by the name the Performing Arts Orchestra of San Francisco. Later, in 1983, the name was officially changed to the SF Ballet Orchestra. The Orchestra’s repertoire varies from such classics as Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake and Adam’s Giselle, to more abstract and contemporary ballet and symphonic works. Over the years, the Orchestra has also earned the distinction of having accompanied such prestigious ballet companies as American Ballet Theater, Paris Opéra Ballet, National Ballet of Cuba, The Royal Ballet, the Royal Danish Ballet, Stuttgart Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet, and Paul Taylor Dance Company. In February 2016 the SF Ballet Orchestra’s recording of Ask Your Mama won the GRAMMY® for Best Engineered Album (Classical) and Producer of the Year (Classical). 2016 marks the 40th anniversary of the SF Ballet Orchestra.
Track Listing:
1. Fackeltanz (Torch Dance), Opus 51 (1893)
2-7. Aus Aller Herren Länder (From Foreign Lands), Opus 23 (1879/1884)
8. Habanera Opus 65, Nr. 3 (1900/1904)
9. Près Du Berceau (By the Cradle), Opus 58, Nr. 3 (1896/1897)
10-15. Six Airs De Ballet, Opus 56 from the Incidental Music to Grabbe’s “Don Juan and Faust” (1896)
16. Gondoliera, Opus 41 (1886) & Orchestrated by Otto Langey (1912)
17-21. Spanische Tänze (Spanish Dances), Opus 12 (1876) & Orchestrated by Philipp Scharwenka (1879) and Valentin Frank (1884)
1, 8, 10-15, 16 are World Premiere Recordings