Joseph Marx - Orchestral Songs (Angela Maria Blasi; Stella Doufexis; Steven Sloane)

Information

Composer: Joseph Marx

• (01) Songs for high voice
• (12) Songs for middle voice
• (18) Verklärtes Jahr

Angela Maria Blasi, soprano (1-11)
Stella Doufexis, mezzo soprano (12-22)
Bochum Symphony Orchestra
Steven Sloane, conductor

Date: 2004
Label: ASV

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Review

This is the second disc in a series devoted to Joseph Marx's orchestral works and after the success of the first, which featured some very beautiful symphonic pieces, we now have one devoted to the orchestral song medium. The Bochum Symphony Orchestra are attuned to these overtly romantic pieces and both soloists are also top class interpreters.

The eleven Songs for High Voice are delightful short pieces that create a haunting autumnal atmosphere that is full of nostalgic and romantic longing. They are very close to the Richard Strauss idiom especially 'Ständchen' and 'Sommerlied' but the original voice of Marx is also quite evident. Blasi sings with evident feeling for the music and the orchestral accompaniment is beautifully fashioned by Sloane and his Bochum players.

The six Songs for Middle Voice also have special features of their own although they are similar in construction to their counterparts for soprano. Stella Dolfexis is an exciting discovery as she brings with her a rich timbre and full tone that match the music perfectly. The song cycle 'Verklartes Jahr' is also very beautiful and deserves to be much better known although it si again superbly done by Sloane and the fine Bochum orchestra with Dolfexis bringing great swathes of power and drive to the final 'Auf der Campagna'.

AS&V's recording is excellently balanced although at times, the orchestra does appear to be slightly recessed. Most of the music has rarely been heard though and I do recommend this disc to those who enjoy late romantic composers such as Rott, Raff and Zemlinsky. Marx is definitely a voice that deserves to be much more frequently heard.

-- Gerald Fenech, Classical Net

More reviews:
MusicWeb International  RECORDING OF THE MONTH
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2004/jun/18/classicalmusicandopera.shopping3
http://classicalcdreview.com/marx.html
https://www.amazon.com/Marx-Orchestral-Angela-Maria-Blasi/dp/B00025OGNK

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Joseph Marx (May 11, 1882 - September 3, 1964) was an Austrian composer, teacher and critic. He studied philosophy, art history, German studies, and music at Graz University, earning several degrees including a doctorate. As a composer Marx is chiefly remembered for his vocal music contributions, particularly his more than 150 lieder, with about two dozen of them used symphonic accompaniment. His style is characterized by Slavonic and Italian elements, often with an impressionistic kind of lyricism. His "Romantic Piano Concerto" was Jorge Bolet's favorite among the great virtuoso concertos.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Marx

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Angela Maria Blasi (born 16 August 1956 in Brooklyn, New York) is an Italian-American soprano. In addition to earning a Bachelor of Arts degree from Loyola University she studied vocal technique and interpretation with teachers Dennis Parnell, Seth Riggs, Jack Metz and David Romano. Blasi is one of today’s leading lyric sopranos. Since her debut as Pamina (Mozart's Die Zauberflöte), her international career has led her to the main European opera-houses and festivals, as well as New York Metropolitan Opera. Blasi is also highly respected as an outstanding concert-soloist.
http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Bio/Blasi-Angela-Maria.htm
http://www.angelamariablasi.com/

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Stella Doufexis (15 April 1968, Frankfurt, Hesse - 15 December 2015, Berlin) was a German-Greek mezzo-soprano. She studied at the Hochschule der Künste in Berlin with Ingrid Figur, and participated in master-classes with Aribert Reimann and Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, before completed her studies with Anna Reynolds. Doufexis was a permanent ensemble member of the Komische Oper in Berlin, where she performed many important main roles. She was also a renowned lied singer and concert performer, and had appeared with all important German radio orchestras. She died of cancer at age 47.
http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Bio/Doufexis-Stella.htm
http://www.stelladoufexis.de/

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Steven Sloane (born 1958 in Los Angeles, California) is an American conductor, currently based in Germany. He graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles with a degree in music. Separately, he also took conducting lessons with Eugene Ormandy, Franco Ferrara and Gary Bertini. Sloane has been music director of the Bochum Symphony Orchestra since 1994. He was also music director of the Frankfurt Opera (1989-1994), the Spoleto Festival USA (1996-2000), the Opera North (1999-2002), the American Composers Orchestra (2002-2006) and the Stavanger Symphony Orchestra (2007-2013).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_Sloane
http://stevensloane.de

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