Antheil: Orchestral Works, Vol. 3

Featuring

John Storgårds
BBC Philharmonic
George Antheil

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Compositional Technique

The Symphony No. 1 'Zingareska' incorporates popular idioms, reflecting nostalgia for the ragtime era, and its 'Ragtime' finale was influenced by Stravinsky's Pétrouchka.

Recording & Production

This Chandos recording uses 24-bit / 96 kHz technology, which offers a dynamic range up to 48 dB greater and 256 times the resolution of standard 16-bit recordings.

Notable Performances

The premiere of Antheil's Symphony No. 1 with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra was restricted to the first two movements because Antheil felt the conductor, Rudolf Schulz-Dornburg, was not equipped to do the rest of the score justice.

Composition History

Antheil's Symphony No. 1, 'Zingareska', was inspired by his New Jersey upbringing, particularly the town of Trenton and the Delaware River.

Composer Biography

George Antheil, the composer, initially studied with Constantin von Sternberg, a former pupil of Liszt, who made him spend a year writing fugues on the same theme.

Critical Reception

Antheil's London piano recital in 1922 received mixed reviews, with the composer wryly commenting in his autobiography, 'I did not conquer London - I merely incensed it.'

Performer Biography

John Storgårds, the conductor on this album, has a dual career as a conductor and violin virtuoso and is the Chief Guest Conductor of the BBC Philharmonic.