Gerhard, Roberto (1896 - 1970)

[Beef Oven!]

Thanks for that Richard. Now I wish I had not been so hasty, and ordered a "used, like new" copy when I thought I would get no response here. Ah well, at least it will offer an alternative take.

Which symphony are you talking about? As far as the third goes, the Tenerife/Pérez is excellent.

[Bryn]

Which symphony are you talking about? As far as the third goes, the Tenerife/Pérez is excellent.

2nd and 4th. jlw's #30 has eased my concern that I might have made a wrong move in ordering it. As is does not appear to be available from QOBUZ, I had to strike while the iron was hot, re. the £10.25 (including p&p) copy from an Amazon marketplace seller.

[Bryn]

2nd and 4th. jlw's #30 has eased my concern that I might have made a wrong move in ordering it. As is does not appear to be available from QOBUZ, I had to strike while the iron was hot, re. the £10.25 (including p&p) copy from an Amazon marketplace seller.

That was quick! The CD has just been delivered, and "New York", of which I have two other recordings, is now playing. So far, so good.

[jayne lee wilson]

Roberto Gerhard
Leo; Gemini; Libra; Concert for 8. Collegium Novum Zurich/Peter Hirsch. NEOS CD 2013.
(Available to stream on Qobuz).

Stunning Gerhard collection of the late ensemble/instrumental pieces (some of his best music), including all the Zodiac works. Probably not much to choose between these and Barcelona 216 on Stradivarius, but with the advantage of having them here on a single disc. In truth, and in direct comparison, I did just prefer the NEOS recordings for a touch of extra freedom and drama in their presentation.
Both Libra and Leo end with a variant of the same music - an extraordinary, other-worldly coda with clarinet and flute solos agains a piano ostinato, soft timpani glissandi and hushed percussion adding flickers and colours in the background.
Libra was his own sign, Leo his wife's. Leo was his last completed work.

[Richard Barrett]

Roberto Gerhard
Leo; Gemini; Libra; Concert for 8. Collegium Novum Zurich/Peter Hirsch. NEOS CD 2013.
(Available to stream on Qobuz).

Yes, I bought that one on CD (!!!!) when it came out, highly incisive and convincing performances, certainly some distance ahead of the London Sinfonietta recordings from the 1970s.

[Bryn]

from a tweet by Philip Thomas:

"NEWS: Prof @montyadkins has been awarded £99,860 follow-on funding from the AHRC for the project: Gerhard Revealed. This one-year project will see Adkins along with two research assistants create a website and educational resources around Gerhard's electronic music."

[Serial_Apologist]

from a tweet by Philip Thomas:

"NEWS: Prof @montyadkins has been awarded £99,860 follow-on funding from the AHRC for the project: Gerhard Revealed. This one-year project will see Adkins along with two research assistants create a website and educational resources around Gerhard's electronic music."

[Sydney Grew]

Robert Gerhard was born at Valls in 1896.

In his youth he absorbed Parnassian, symbolist and surrealist influences through associating with the poets Josep Carner (whose noucentisme movement was dedicated to combining the arts and sciences), Josep Vincent Foix and J.M. Lopez-Picó.

He completed for us four serious symphonies:

no. 1, 1953

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CH-PcXwPA2s

no. 2, 1959

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GA1DFKxSPQc

no. 3, 1960

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwGJvFv1z4s

no. 4, 1968

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WciujZwNcbU

two string quartets:

no. 1, 1955

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZgCN1dYUEA

no. 2, 1962

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhmEDqL-ZG4

some concertos:

Violin Concerto, 1943

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ADHOkK6OLY

Pianoforte Concerto, 1951

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IffBqrtuGu0

Harpsichord Concerto, 1956

Concerto for Orchestra, 1965

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0ndg4EZenI

as well as a considerable quantity of lesser compositions.