Schnittke, A.: Concerto Grosso No. 1 (Version for Flute and Oboe) / Symphony No. 9

Featuring

Owain Arwel Hughes
Sharon Bezaly
Christopher Cowie
Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra
Alfred Schnittke

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Composer's Artistic Vision

Schnittke aimed to bridge the gap between 'serious music' (Ernste Musik) and 'entertainment music' (Unterhaltungsmusik), even if it meant taking risks.

Composition History

Alfred Schnittke suffered a stroke in 1994 which left him unable to speak, but he continued composing with his left hand, completing his Symphony No. 9, a Viola Concerto, and Variations for String Quartet before his death.

Compositional Technique

Alfred Schnittke's Concerto grosso No. 1 is a 'polystylistic' composition, incorporating diverse elements like a Soviet popular song, a nostalgic atonal serenade, and a tango.

Composer Biography

Alfred Schnittke (1934-98) was restricted from traveling to Western countries and attending premieres of his works until he was 43, due to the Soviet Composers' Union.

Composition History

Schnittke's Symphony No. 9 was difficult to read because he wrote it with his left hand after a stroke, leading to multiple attempts at reconstruction by other composers.

Performer Biography

Sharon Bezaly, the flutist on this album, was described by The Times (UK) as 'God's gift to the flute' and has had seventeen concertos dedicated to her by renowned composers.

Composition History

The Concerto grosso No. 1 was originally for two violins, prepared piano, and strings, but Schnittke created a new version in 1988 for flute and oboe at the request of Russian oboist Viacheslav Lupachev.