Into The Light: Symphonic Expressions Of The Spirit

Alan Hovhaness (Composer), Thomas Canning (Composer), Dave Brubeck (Composer), Steve [Composer] Rouse (Composer), Richard [1] Strauss (Composer), Jesús López-Cobos (Conductor), Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
• Conductor: Jesús López-Cobos
• Composer: Alan Hovhaness, Thomas Canning, Dave Brubeck, Steve [Composer] Rouse, Richard [1] Strauss
• Audio CD (August 26, 1997)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Telarc
• ASIN: B000003D2N
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #352,921 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Symphony No.2 ('Mysterious Mountain'), Op. 132: 1. Andante con moto

2. Symphony No.2 ('Mysterious Mountain'), Op. 132: 2. Double fugue

3. Symphony No.2 ('Mysterious Mountain'), Op. 132: 3. Andante espressivo

4. Fantasy on a Hymn Tune by Justin Morgan for double string quartet and string orchestra

5. Orchestral Suite from 'Joy in the Morning': 1. In My Distress

6. Orchestral Suite from 'Joy in the Morning': 2. I Will Lift Up Mine Eyes

7. Orchestral Suite from 'Joy in the Morning': 3. Dance for Joy

8. Into the Light: 2nd movement

9. Tod und Verklärung (Death and Transfiguration), tone poem for orchestra, Op. 24 (TrV 158)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful..., March 29, 2002

By 

Paul Arthur (Kansas City, MO) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Into The Light: Symphonic Expressions Of The Spirit (Audio CD)

I bought this album for Thomas Canning's "Hymn" after hearing the piece in the play "Worksong: Three Views of Frank Lloyd Wright". During the show, it was used in such a haunting fashion that listening to it along with the on stage action was enough to bring shivers to your body and goosebumps to your skin. It's one of my favorite classical pieces of music...

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A straightforward, well-performed Mysterious Mountain, September 2, 2009

By 

Patrick W. Crabtree "The Old Grottomaster" (Lucasville, OH USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Into The Light: Symphonic Expressions Of The Spirit (Audio CD)

I'm only reviewing the track which pertains to the performance of Hovhaness' "Mysterious Mountain" symphony on this CD.

This performance is very tight and nicely balanced. Unfortunately, this work (which was Hovhaness' Magnum opus) lends itself best to thinking outside the box. For a notably superior "Mysterious Mountain," (in terms of an artful rendition) you'll find this memorable performance and recording to be the most articulate of them all: Hovhaness: Mysterious Mountain.

Still, Conductor Lopez-Cobos has his great moments in this instance, chiefly towards the conclusion of the work which is the most emotive that I've heard to date. And the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra was at its best on this one as well. So I can still heartily recommend Lopez-Cobos' worthy version of this terrific composition.

I'm a huge fan of the late Alan Hovhaness and if you enjoy "Mysterious Mountain" then you'll almost certainly savor this one, (in spite of the horrific slime green cover!): Music of Alan Hovhaness: Saint Vartan Symphony; Artik.