Jay Greenberg: Symphony No. 5; Quintet for Strings [Hybrid SACD] [Hybrid SACD - DSD]

Jay Greenberg (Composer), José Serebrier (Conductor), London Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra
• Conductor: José Serebrier
• Composer: Jay Greenberg
• Audio CD (August 15, 2006)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Hybrid SACD - DSD
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B000G8P1NC
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #136,220 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Mov't I: Allegro Molto

2. Mov't II: Scherzo: Vivace assai

3. Mov't III: Fantasia: Lento, quasi Fantasia

4. Mov't IV: Allegro con brio e deciso

5. Mov't I: Adagio misterioso e dolore

6. Mov't II: Scherzo: Scherzando e animato

7. Mov't III: Prestissimo possibile

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

What can one say about a 15-year-old composer, after listening to his Fifth Symphony or his string quintet, that won't be either of the "precocious genius" type or the "for his age" type? Don't expect Mahler and don't expect Mozart. Just judge the music by itself: Greenberg is an adept composer. His music is both good to listen to and interesting. A composer now for many years (he began playing cello at three), Greenberg's influences and derivations are clear--here's a bit of Shostakovich, here's some Bartok---but he also is developing a voice of his own and has the technique to do it. Greenberg can write a good fugato, his melodies linger, he knows how to get the oboe's plaintive side into focus, and his climaxes are built up and effective. He writes a good, somewhat sullen waltz (the Symphony begins with it). The Quintet uses two cellos (he seems to like the lower strings) and, in all, is the more engaging of the two works. José Srebrier leads the LSO with sensitivity and the Juilliard Quartet is, as ever, superb. Is this "great" music? It's hard to say--but you can be sure it's strong enough to be taken seriously and programmed at a concert hall near you. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

63 of 69 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding: please welcome a major new talent., August 16, 2006

By 

Xyp (Cincinnati, OH) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jay Greenberg: Symphony No. 5; Quintet for Strings [Hybrid SACD] (Audio CD)

This new CD of Jose Serebrier leading the London SO in the Fifth Symphony of prodigy Jay Greenberg heralds the official recording arrival of a major new talent to the world of classical music. For those who have been following this youngster's career from the piece on 60 Minutes and radio performances of his early works, you already know that Greenberg is a child prodigy who insisted on starting to play an instrument (cello) at the age of 3, and was composing shortly thereafter. His entry into the Julliard School and subsequent tutelage has been watched with anticipation the world over.

The Greenberg Fifth is utterly provoking and well orchestrated, but also by turns shows the influences of (to this listener's ears) Stravinsky, Shostakovich, and Bartok, among others. Of particular note is how Greenberg's often more bombastic fortes flow so evenly and wonderfully into his melodic and haunting pianissimos- such wonderful transition will hopefully become one of the earmarks of his style. This music is modern without being overly angular, melodic without pandering, and organized without sounding constructed. The String Quintet utilizes two cellos, and along with the two violins, they revolve around and respond to the central themes of the viola.

It should be noted, however, that there is nothing especially new here either compositionally or stylistically. However, in its imitation these works are part of the blossoming of an artist- one that points towards great things to come rather than any sort of apex in his evolution.

Needless to say, the conducting of Stokowski's protege Jose Serebrier is both sensitive and exciting, and the London Symphony is in top form under his direction. The Julliard Quartet, (augmented by an additional cello) takes to the Quintet like it has been playing this piece for years. This disc is offered in SACD hybrid format, and Sony's sound is top notch.

This disc should be heard by everyone who takes an active interest in classical music- and especially those who are interested in modern works. I believe young Greenberg is one of the faces of classical music to come. Urgently recommended.

**Update: I have had the opportunity to spend more time with this CD over the past week, and read a few of the other reviews that have been written on it (by admittedly much more learned critics). Overall, I believe they say that this disc is interesting, but most make comparisons to other great composer's works at the same age (Mozart, Saint-Saens, Mendelssohn, and Enescu among them). They find this disc lacking variably in originality, substance, and mature development when compared with the above titans and (as noted earlier) in places, albeit VERY few, I am forced to agree with them. However, the other reviews do not discourage me from keeping this disc at a 5 star rating because in my view, no matter where Mozart ended, he began somewhere- and that beginning certainly wasn't as a fully realized compositional genius. The essence of what made me give this record 5 stars in the first place is still there: Greenberg's one in a million ecstatic talent, Serebrier and the LSO's fantastic playing, and the chance to see this rising star develop.

30 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE SEREBRIER MAGIC DOES IT AGAIN, August 16, 2006

By 

Graciela L. (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jay Greenberg: Symphony No. 5; Quintet for Strings [Hybrid SACD] (Audio CD)

Listening to this Greenberg debut CD, it becomes obvious that the brilliant performance, the beautiful phrasing, are a trademark of the conductor Jose Serebrier. The end result is a magnificent, ebullient performance by the great London Symphony Orchestra, obviously inspired by the maestro. The Symphony No. 5 (are there symphonies 1 to 4?) sounds like the work of a mature composer, not at all a 14-year old (he says in his liner notes that he worked on this symphony since he was 12!). The work does make an impact, in this great performance, and deserves to become part of the repertoire. Let us hope that orchestras around the world pick it up, and hopefully commission the young composer to write new symphonies and concertos.
The String Quintet, while not as impressive as the 5th Symphony, is also the product of a mature mind, and equally well performed by the Juilliards. The recorded sound is first-class. More, please.
Graciela L.
Philadelphia

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fascinating Disc, June 14, 2007

By 

D. A Wend (Arlington Heights, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jay Greenberg: Symphony No. 5; Quintet for Strings [Hybrid SACD] (Audio CD)

I first got to know about Jay Greenberg from his astonishing 60 Minutes interview during which, I believe, it was mentioned that his 5th Symphony had been recorded. Mr. Greenberg is truly a prodigy with great gifts but also, as this disc demonstrates, he writes interesting music.

To have already written a 5th Symphony by age 14 bears comparison to Mozart, Mendelssohn and, in the 20th Century, Korngold, Prokofiev and Shostakovich. The symphony begins quietly with an introspective melody that gradually builds toward a climax when the themes are boldly developed, and the movement concludes with a flourish. The Scherzo is an energetic and playful movement with an ominous middle section that provides a brief respite before going back to the march-like tempo of the beginning. The third movement is bleak and introspective dominated by strings and percussion and the finale is a rousing and tuneful movement that brings the symphony to a triumphant conclusion.

If anything, the String Quintet is even more impressive and was written for the standard string quartet with the addition of a cello. An introspective opening movement gives way to a charming Scherzo and is followed up by an energetic final movement with a nice interplay between the soloists. For me, this piece sounded much like some of Shostakovich's string quartets but this is only my opinion and I mention it so that someone could gauge what the music is like. The music of Jay Greenberg does not comfortably fit into a "mold" so I cannot say comfortably that his music (the symphony in particular) reminds me of other composers, and perhaps this is an unfriendly approach to his music.

This disc is also memorable because Mr. Greenberg's mentor and teacher Jose Serebrier conducts the London Symphony, and Maestro Serebrier (himself a composer at a young age) added some interesting notes to the booklet. The music is beautifully recorded and certainly a must if you are interested in contemporary music.