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Secret Passion
This MDG (SA-)CD features two sound highlights of high repertoire value
and the highest popularity. With Roman Kofman at the baton, the Kiev Chamber
Orchestra pays tribute to Gustav Mahler's secret passion for the arranging
of legendary compositions for chamber orchestra! Here Schubert's Death
and the Maiden is heard in magnificent orchestral guise! And, as part
of the deal: the world-famous Adagietto from Mahler's own Fifth Symphony,
which captivated moviegoers thirty years ago in Visconti's Death in Venice.
Glaring Misjudgment
The Vienna press did not make things easy for Mahler: "A quartet
for string orchestra! Destruction of intimacy, of individuality! Chamber
music is by definition written for room space. It is really enjoyed only
by the performers." What a glaring misjudgment! For his part, Mahler
was simply possessed with the idea of presenting works of art dearest
to his heart in the most effective way possible.
Trial Balloon
The transcription of Death and the Maiden was not Mahler's first attempt
to present a string quartet for a larger public and in the form of an
arrangement for string orchestra. Already on November 19, 1894, he had
sent up a trial balloon in the New Hamburg Subscription Concerts with
his upgrading of the variation movement from Schubert's String Quartet
in D minor.
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His intention to arrange the whole work, however,
did not get beyond sketches. One hundred years later the Kiev Chamber Orchestra
returned to his sketches, and Mahler's wish came true: an ecstasy of string
sound!
Concertmaster and Conductor
Roman Kofman's career got off to a dazzling start. As a violinist he advanced
within the shortest time to the post of concertmaster of the Kiev Chamber
Orchestra and then embarked on just as distinguished a career as a conductor.
Since 1978 he has directed a conducting class at the Tchaikovsky Conservatory
in Kiev, and since 2003 he has led the Beethoven Orchestra of Bonn. Now
this outstanding artist's "home" Kiev Chamber Orchestra also profits
from his excellent conducting technique.
Benjamin Britten
Simple Symphony op. 4, Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge op. 10
Les Illuminations op. 18
Franziska Hirzel, Soprano
Kiev Chamber Orchestra
Roman Kofman, cond.
CD: MDG 601 1275-2
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