MacDowell: The Symphonic Poems

Edward MacDowell (Composer), Karl Krueger (Conductor), Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra)

Product Details

• Orchestra: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
• Conductor: Karl Krueger
• Composer: Edward MacDowell
• Audio CD (June 22, 1999)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Bridge
• ASIN: B00000JCG5
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #384,689 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Shedding new light on American Symphonic Music, June 4, 2000

By	Eric J Hearst (Takoma Park, MD, USA) - See all my reviews

This recording allows for new listeners to appreciate the contributions of American composers to the furhter development of program music or what is called symphonic/tone poems. The US Library of Congress issued this recording of pices first recorded in 1958 but never released. Through technical expertise, everything has been updated and the beauty of MacDowell's music shines through, particulary in Hamlet/Ophelia (Tracks 3&4). Excellent booklet notes give a good overview of each poems composition. Recommended for people who enjoy the tone poems of R. Strauss and Franz Liszt.

4.0 out of 5 stars Forgotten Americana, June 25, 2008

By	The Night Owl out on the Town "NightOwlEnt" (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews

MacDowell was highly regarded in his day, but now is known for a few piano pieces and his second piano conerto, which occasionally turns up. Andre Watts and Van Cliburn among others have championed it.
MacDowell was a very accomplished composer in a post-Lisztian/pre-Impressionistic vein. These compositions lack only melodic memorability to make them staples of the repertory.
These are old recordings from the 1960's made fresh as new by great restoration. Karl Krueger provides strong advocacy ably backed by the great Royal Philharmonic of London in its heyday. Well worth a hearing.
Bravo Bridge for rescuing them from the attic.