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Along with the operas I can’t seem to get enough of, I’ve been gorging my ears on all the Romantic Era compositions I can get my grubby little hands on. Classical, Romantic Opera, and Ballet has been tearing up my iTunes for the last few weeks and I feel like sharing. For those that don’t know the Romatic hey days were the mid to late 1800s, a period that has fascinated my forever. Without the events of the late 1800s our current society would be drastically different including the occurrences of the two World Wars, the rise of Capitalism and Communism, and the exploration of the globe that has resulted in today’s globalism. Music of this time likewise was significantly changing through exploration and rapid cultural changes occurring in Europe. Russia emerged as a musical powerhouse as one of its few oddly strong areas of talent with such names as Rimsky-Korsakov, Tchaikovsky, Stravinsky, and later, Shostakovich.

The music of the era is charged with national pride, exploration, world influences, and internationality that I adore. Despite hyper competitiveness amongst the nations, talent was encouraged to travel to enhance the name of the fatherlands and inevitably cultures clashed in the form of unparalleled experimentation. It was the time of Neitzsche and Marx and Mill in philosophy and ideology made a huge impact on musical composition. Instrumentation also moved out of religious traditions and harpsichord, organs, and tabernacles were replaced with percussion, brass, and wind instruments that upheld military and international motifs better. Arias and hymns were replaced with turbulent choral shouts and hedonistic story lines. Music became modern and the world changed.

1. De Falla - Magic Of Love Introduction & Scene

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2. Dvorak - Symphony No. 9 in E Minor, Op.95, From the “New World” - Allegro con fuoco

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3. Gliere - The Red Poppy, Ballet Suite, Op. 70 - Heroic Coolie Dance

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4. Grieg - Peer Gynt Suite No.1 Op.46 Anistras Dance

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5. Kodaly - Duo for Violin and Cello, Op.7 - Allegro serioso, non troppo (Recorded in Japan 1978)

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6. Lizst - Czardas

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7. Shostakovich - Symphony No.10 in E Minor, Opus 93 - II. Allegro

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8. Strauss - Persian March, Op. 289

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9. Stravinsky - The Firebird Suite - Infernal Dance

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10. Verdi - Overture The Force Of Destiny

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I’ve been on a bit of an operatic binge lately so I’d like to share my favourite modern opera album with you, Oceana and Three Songs by Osvaldo Golijov.

Release in 2007 and the second operatic piece written by Golijov, the album is separated into three parts. The bulk of the album is Oceana, an operatic piece styled after Bach and performed by the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and vocals by Luciana Souza. The piece is both classical and profoundly Latin and Jazz sounding. The opera is brilliantly accessible with non-traditional operatic instrumentation including guitars, drums, and a large portion of Latin wood instruments including rainsticks, marracas, and clap sticks, in addition to the standard orchestration. The vocals empower the emotionally laden music drawing the listener deep into the turbulent story and rhythm. Playful winds contrast the robust choral performances filling the sound with life like few other modern works. Stunning solo performances by Souza further the melancholy attitude of the first call and then turn around abruptly wit the classical guitar driven second call that has a playful exuberance of a Brazilian Bossa club. The aria’s guitar instrumentation lends itself to a film-score like sound that would rivalry and mystery or thriller’s soundtrack.

The rest of the album is split up between the Three Songs and Tenebrae which on their own would make an excellent album. Deep writing emotions in the music are brilliant and so powerful that even just listening will move you. The attitude of the Three Songs and Tenebrae is profoundly depressed accomplished with significant use of string instrumentation. As stand alone pieces they rivalry any modern classical music and are a testament to the brilliance of Golijov.

Below is a selection from the album and I recommend picking up the album for yourself along with Golijov’s numerous other works. I am a fan of Ainadamar and Ayre but would recommend any of his albums. Enjoy.

1. Osvaldo Golijov - Oceana - Call

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2. Osvaldo Golijov - Oceana - First Wave

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3. Osvaldo Golijov - Oceana - Second Call

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4. Osvaldo Golijov - Oceana - Second Wave

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5. Osvaldo Golijov - Oceana - Third Wave

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6. Osvaldo Golijov - Tenebrae I

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7. Osvaldo Golijov - Tenebrae II

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8. Osvaldo Golijov - Three Songs - How Slow The Wind

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9. Osvaldo Golijov - Three Songs - Lua Descolorida

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10. Osvaldo Golijov - Three Songs - Night of the Flying Horses - Doina- Gallop

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