Top 10 modern classics
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
Daunted by contemporary music? Look no further...
Time is often the best judgement of art’s longevity; however much the critics heap adulation of a new play, book or piece of music, if it doesn’t start a life there and then, it’s future can’t be guaranteed. The history of music is littered with pieces that were heard just once – and have never seen the light of day since. Here’s a list of 10 pieces, composed since 1982, that have established a hold on the repertoire and in some cases notched up a fair number of recordings. It’s not exhaustive, but it does speak eloquently of what ignites public appreciation…
No 1
Adams Short Ride in a Fast Machine (1986)
Bournemouth SO / Marin Alsop
'This attractive Adams disc presents several...' Read review
No 2
Tavener The Protecting Veil (1988)
Steven Isserlis (vc) LSO / Gennady Rozhdestvensky
'First impressions of The Protecting Veil are of a consonant...' Read review
No 3
MacMillan Veni, Veni, Emmanuel (1992)
Evelyn Glennie (perc) Scottish Chamber Orchestra / Jukka-Pekka Saraste
'Now coming up to 40, James MacMillan has...' Read review
No 4
Maxwell Davies An Orkney Wedding, With Sunrise (1985)
Atlanta SO / Donald Runnicles
'The release of this all-British programme coincided with the...' Read review
No 5
Turnage Blood on the Floor (1993-96)
Ensemble Modern / Peter Rundel
'The title comes from a painting by Francis Bacon (whose distinctive facial features are bizarrely recalled in the composer’s own), while the music ranges widely in its references and...' Read review
No 6
Adès Asyla (1999)
BPO / Rattle
'In not much more than 18 months, EMI has now recorded 19 works by Thomas Adès...' Read review
No 7
Ligeti Violin Concerto (1990/92)
Patricia Kopatchinskaja (vn) Ensemble Modern; Hessen RSO / Peter Eötvös
No 8
Lieberson Neruda Songs (2005)
Lorraine Hunt Lieberson (mez) Boston SO / James Levine
'Not so long ago, “lush” and “romantic” were...' Read review
No 9
Whitacre Sleep (2000)
Polyphony / Stephen Layton
'Eric Whitacre came relatively late to classical music; he was converted by Mozart’s Requiem...' Read review
No 10
Pärt Passio (1982)
Tonus Peregrinus / Anthony Pitts
'Arvo Pärt’s Passio is a shining beacon among countless late-20th century...' Read review