Turnage Evening Songs; Scherzoid; When I Woke; Yet Another Set To

An instantly recognisable compositional voice given compelling performances

Record and Artist Details

Composer or Director: Mark-Anthony Turnage

Genre:

Orchestral

Label: LPO

Media Format: Super Audio CD

Media Runtime: 66

Mastering:

Stereo
DDD

Catalogue Number: LPO0007

Tracks:

Composition Artist Credit
Scherzoid Mark-Anthony Turnage, Composer
Jonathan Nott, Conductor
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Mark-Anthony Turnage, Composer
Evening Songs, Movement: Almost Dreaming Mark-Anthony Turnage, Composer
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Mark-Anthony Turnage, Composer
Wladimir Jurowski, Conductor
Evening Songs, Movement: In the Half Light Mark-Anthony Turnage, Composer
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Mark-Anthony Turnage, Composer
Wladimir Jurowski, Conductor
Evening Songs, Movement: Still Sleeping Mark-Anthony Turnage, Composer
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Mark-Anthony Turnage, Composer
Wladimir Jurowski, Conductor
When I Woke, Movement: The Turn of Time Mark-Anthony Turnage, Composer
Gerald Finley, Baritone
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Mark-Anthony Turnage, Composer
Wladimir Jurowski, Conductor
When I Woke, Movement: When I Woke Mark-Anthony Turnage, Composer
Gerald Finley, Baritone
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Mark-Anthony Turnage, Composer
Wladimir Jurowski, Conductor
When I Woke, Movement: Lie Still, Sleep Becalmed Mark-Anthony Turnage, Composer
Gerald Finley, Baritone
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Mark-Anthony Turnage, Composer
Wladimir Jurowski, Conductor
Yet Another Set To, Movement: Cut Up Mark-Anthony Turnage, Composer
Christian Lindberg, Trombone
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Marin Alsop, Conductor
Mark-Anthony Turnage, Composer
Yet Another Set To, Movement: A Soothing Interlude Mark-Anthony Turnage, Composer
Christian Lindberg, Trombone
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Marin Alsop, Conductor
Mark-Anthony Turnage, Composer
Yet Another Set To, Movement: Another Set To Mark-Anthony Turnage, Composer
Christian Lindberg, Trombone
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Marin Alsop, Conductor
Mark-Anthony Turnage, Composer
Mark-Anthony Turnage has enjoyed associations with the CBSO, BBC SO and now the London Philharmonic, each resulting in a wealth of new music and, fortunately for us, a CD for home listening. A number of ensembles had a hand in commissioning Scherzoid, the first work on this latest collection, and its particular propulsive character would seem to have been influenced by the involvement of the New York Philharmonic. Though rhythmically complex and changing its mood as rapidly as the title punningly suggests, the music is easy to assimilate. Its urban bustle and swagger take in minimalist influences alongside the usual Stravinsky-meets-Miles Davis mélange. As if to secure transatlantic approval, at one point there’s a distinct whiff of On the Waterfront, although, in the event, Lorin Maazel elected not to conduct the first performance. Jonathan Nott does the honours here – and splendidly.

Turnage’s subtler, shell-shocked lyricism is more in evidence in the purely orchestral Evening Songs. Originating in lullabies for his sons, the calm outer panels enclose an interlude with a more troubled, expressionist melodic line, typically Brittenish at the outset. The Dylan Thomas settings, When I Woke, were written for a celebrated singer who did not take them up but it’s difficult to feel them in any way problematic in this ardent account. Certainly, the spare accompanying textures create no difficulties for the soloist.

Yet Another Set To brings back the more boisterous, head-banging Turnage. All is not plain sailing in that the composer here shows us his Boulez-like propensity to reshape and recycle existing music. Cheekily, the score incorporates not only 2000’s Another Set To – itself a reworking, previously recorded by Christian Lindberg (Chandos, 3/03) – but also a movement derived from Blood on the Floor (Decca, 5/98R). It’s exhilarating, explosive stuff, even more fun in live performance. Here alone concluding applause is (not inappropriately) retained.

All credit to the LPO for compiling a whole evening of Turnage. You may not always like what he does or how he does it but his instantly recognisable voice is well served by the blunt immediacy of the sound and the obvious flair of the performances.

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