From the Artist
Mr. Davies comments: "I have played and conducted Philips music for 25 years, including the first performances of all six symphonies, several of the operas, the original 6 piano etudes and the Tyrol Concerto. With each new work I have been increasingly impressed by the skill with which Philip has refined and extended the expressive possibilities of his musical language to move his listeners. Learning, practicing and performing the Tyrol Concerto has been a rewarding and exhilarating from the first conceptual discussions through countless performances before widely varied audiences both in Europe and North America. Philip tailor made the concerto for me together with the brilliant Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra and we love performing it. Passages is Philips homage to his mentor and friend Ravi Shankar, and in this spirit I have arranged this beautiful musical synthesis to bring together two great ensembles, my Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra and the incomparable Raschèr Saxophone Quartet. As Philip knows, its fun to write for friends."
Product Description
Dennis Russell Davies is one of the worlds most inventive conductors. At the forefront of the orchestral, chamber and operatic worlds, he is an articulate and versatile artist respected in both traditional and contemporary music, as well as an accomplished pianist and much-sought after collaborator. As a champion of composer Philip Glass music, and of many other great contemporary composers work, he has had significantly helped to enrich concert and operatic repertory around the globe. Currently, Mr. Davis is Chief Conductor of the Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra, the Bruckner Orchestra Linz, and the Linz Opera. He is also a Professor of Orchestral Conducting at the Salzburg Mozarteum.
The Tirol Concerto for Piano and Orchestra was commissioned by the Tirol Tourist Board (Tirol Werbung, Tirol/Austria) and had its world premiere at the Tyrol Festival "Klangspuren" in Jenbach, Austria on 22nd September 2000. While staying in the Tyrol, Glass studied sound documents and sheet music of Tyrolese folk-music. In the Tirol Concerto for Piano and Orchestra he used original folk-music source material directly for the first time.
In 1990 Philip Glass and Ravi Shankarwhom Mr. Glass recognizes as "one of his teachers" collaborated on a recording entitled Passages. This project brought full circle a process that began in 1965, when Glass, a promising young American musician met Indian Sitar master Ravi Shankar in Paris while Glass was earning pocket money doing notation for a soundtrack recording session.
Dennis Russell Davies close friendship with Philip Glass and his intense understanding and support of Mr. Glass work has led to many successful collaborations and will, no doubt, result in many more. Orange Mountain Music is proud to present these recordings of the Tirol Concerto for Piano and Orchestra and Mr. Davies arrangements of Selections from Passages.