Capriccio Italien/Tchaikovsky,LP/Pt 1 of 2

Antal Dorati conducts the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra.

Mercury LP MG50054 1955 (Original Scoring)

Here's Part 2 of 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9agaM7MCBE

(Sorry for the scratches, she's 50 years old)

Composed in 1880, more than a half-dozen years before Rimsky-Korsakov's equally celebrated 'Capriccio Espagnol',

Tchaikovsky's 'Capriccio Italien' was intended by the composer to be as a frankly 'popular' piece. 'I think it has a bright

future.' He once wrote from Rome;'It will be effective because of the wonderful melodies I happened to pick up, partly from

published collections, and partly from out in the streets with my own ears.'

The scoring is for very full orchestra, featuring as it does glockenspiel, triangle and tambourine in the percussion section,

as well as cornets and English horn in the winds augmenting the the normal symphonic forces. The bugle call of the Italian

Royal Cuirassiers (whose barracks adjoined a hotel at which Tchaikovsky once stayed) is sounded by the trumpets at thevery opening

of the Capriccio Italien. There follows a plaintive and darkly hued melody, heard first in the strings, then worked gradually

toward a climax that features a return of the cavalry call with trumpets and clashing cymbals. English horn and bassoons

recall the plaintive melody for a brief space, but an ensuing change of tempo brings with it a lilting folktune played by the

oboes in thirds then by the cornets, with tinkling glockenspiel chiming in at the close of each phase. Again, a climax is

reached, this time with the full orchestral forces, and the tempo becomes still faster as strings set forth a brisk rhythmic

melody, again in lively tempo but of more lush harmonic texture is sounded by the entire string section with tambourine

marking the rhythm. As this melody reaches a peak of color and harmonic richness, it subsides graduallythrough the horns and

the rhythmic tension quite suddenly evaporates, paving the way for the strings to recapitulate the plaintive melody heard in

the music's earlier pages. This does not last for long; For we are quite suddenly plunged into a 'presto' tarantella episode

introduced by flutes and clarinets, but soon involving every section of the orchestra even to the full percussion forces.

A tremendous climax and brilliant decending scale brings back in full panoply the folktune in 3-time introduced originally by

oboes and cornets in turn. The 'presto' is then resumed, but with still another tarantella figure which brings this colorful

work to a close with a blaze of orchestral pyrotechnics.


The 1812 Overture from the other side of the record can be heard here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJ9NLx...
Category: Music
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classical antal dorati conductor minneapolis symphony orchestra capriccio italien mercury mg50054 lp tchaikovsky

Category:

Music

Tags:

• classical
• antal
• dorati
• conductor
• minneapolis
• symphony
• orchestra
• capriccio
• italien
• mercury
• mg50054
• lp
• tchaikovsky

[PhiloPharnsworth]

This great work is available on a Mercury "Living Presence" CD, mated to the spectacular Minneapolis Orch/Antal Dorati rendering of the "1812 Overture," which may be the most thrilling recording ever made. Hear it once on a big sound system, as I did as a child, and you will never, ever forget it.

[zmov1]

Right you are! I have had the LP since it came out, early 60s and would not part with it lightly. Same for the Leibowitz/RPO Bare Mountain (RCA) and Pictures. All posted here because it was not here before and should be.

[garciagar64]

I was 7 years old in Argentine when my father played this for me. Now in Germany, 60 years later. I love youtube!

[Rosana880]

Great performance! feel excited every time I listen to this piece.Love Tchaikovsky! Powerful and passionate!

[OperaMystery80]

I have this CD album and it's terrific; the digitally remastered sound is incredible. Antal Dorati championed Tchaikovsky's music and conducted a large body of his works, many available on CD such as the ballets, symphonies and overtures. The Italian Capriccio is a collection of Italian folk themes Tchaikovsky heard while visiting Rome. Also in this album is a spectacular 1812 Overture. Highly recommended.

[UltimateVideoRater]

at ASCYO we are playing this!!:)

[shnuhaymakoasm]

yesterday I was at the Iraqi National Symphony And Ocrchestra INSO in Baghdad and they played this music and they were amazing

[MsSoraya92]

It was on my 7th birthday - 23 april 1949 - that my father took me to a big football stadium in the Netherlands. I heard this impressive melody played and never forgot. But never heard it again and did not know the name of the music nor the composer.. Until about 5 years ago on the radio.

Anton van den Broek - The Hague

[L1S91]

I was also 7 years old when I heard this particular album, or first aware of...this particualr peice has been in my head now for an additional 52 years.

[kimmyfreak]

my name is BIANCA die schonste name FREDDY BECK

[frieddimsims]

You can hear at 0:37 the timpani was missed tune, but then great correction from the timpanist. O the joy of tuning timps! I just love it :P Timpani part was great to play, except for the i think 300 bar rest...

[ziggy8392]

I wish the horn played out the solo part at the beginning of the 4/4 more, but overall...THAT WAS AMAZING!!!

[youwrotethis]

Sooooooo fun to play :)