Langgaard's Lyre

[SurprisedByBeauty]

You are wicked cilgwyn to keep throwing these temptations my way. 
It does look of interest and I am an admirer of Langgaard's music. However I think I must get my head round Martinu's 'Greek Passion' first.

It is a wicked composition; an anti-Parsifal of sorts. Wonderful. I prefer the danacord recording, though it has more objective faults, by a small margin, because it makes up with immediacy and atmosphere what it lacks in polish.

(see also: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jenslaurson/2016/11/17/theres-something-wonderful-in-the-state-of-denmark/2/#577bf27b6c38)

[Karl Henning]

(see also: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jenslaurson/2016/11/17/theres-something-wonderful-in-the-state-of-denmark/2/#577bf27b6c38)

Nice, again  0:)

[cilgwyn]

I was going to say,there is another recording;and I have heard that some prefer it,and it is,indeed,now,for many,the preferred recording! I haven't heard it I'm afraid,and I will concede that it may be,and probably is, the recording to hear. vandermolen may be amused to find that,thanks to your post,now I'm facing more temptation,myself!! The dacapo recording is,to my mind and ears,superb;yet I am aware that Johan,prefers some of the earlier recordings of Langgaard symphonies,on the danacord label,to the dacapo recordings. If I recall his observations correctly,it is precisely the fact that they are a little less "polished" in execution,that gives them the "edge"! Unfortunately,sellers usually ask high prices for them;which seems to suggest that they are worth acquiring?!! Anyway,I'm going to have to hear that now,aren't I?!!

[cilgwyn]

Here it is! And who wouldn't want this?!!  I'm not usually keen on 'live' recordings,with some exceptions,I might add;but a live recording of this work does seem to make sense,to me! I envy you,SuprisedByBeauty! I note that the performance is in German,though. Never mind. Buy both!! I'll put this on my list,forthwith! See vandermolen.....more expense!!

[vandermolen]

Well, I can't afford £120 or whatever for it but I really liked the Prelude to 'Antikrist' which I just heard on You Tube. So, I have order end a Danacord CD with the Prelude alongside symphonies 13 and 16 which I don't know at all.

[Karl Henning]

Well, I can't afford £120 or whatever for it but I really liked the Prelude to 'Antikrist' which I just heard on You Tube. So, I have order end a Danacord CD with the Prelude alongside symphonies 13 and 16 which I don't know at all.

You certainly need a non-dear option on Antikrist.  You will dig it.

[cilgwyn]

Has it been deleted?! I'm often,almost,relieved at times;because it means I'm not going to spend more money!!! As you know,I've put software on my pc,to stop me from making too many,impulse,purchases of cd's (dvd's and books,too!). The password is in the attic!! It makes me feel like Timothy Lumsden (Remember Ronnie Corbett,In Sorry!). It will also,cut me off at 3pm,so I will,hopefully,do do some work on my painting,artwork and novel writing (ongoing! ).

Karl's right! You will "dig it",vandermolen! What not to dig?!! (The garden?!!) This is pretty mind bending stuff,imho! Particularly,after Flotow's Martha!! It's like someone composed an opera,while consuming a plateful of magic mushrooms! I'd go for the dacapo,first,if I were you,;for a first listen......then get the danacord. Or sell your house,and buy both!! Okay......maybe,not?!!

[SurprisedByBeauty]

Worry not! Antikrist is here!

I think you may have found a listing of the release that is no longer being serviced, as it were. The thing is still in print and can be found following this link (Amazon global):

http://a-fwd.to/4Co42rF

Used to have a lunch or two with the conductor of that recording (which I didn't realize he was, when I got to know him; and my attitude about the recording had already been fixed), who is one of the most knowledgable and fiery Langgaard-protagonists. (Though didn't make friends at home when he told the publishers that most of their material was lazy rubbish and pointed out hundreds if not thousands of mistakes. :-)

[cilgwyn]

Much,colossal pounding and the organ,again,on full throttle. A purely orchestral section,now. Very thrilling,with martial percussion,here. An unaccompanied female soloist. Is that low brass,or an organ? Spooky! A bit hammer horror! Another massive burst from the orchestra. It sounds huge. Then more organ. Another purely orchestral bit here, very beautiful and romantic orchestration ,followed by tolling bells. A lovely chorus,now. Almost like church music. This is glorious. Earlier on there was some music that sounded like,some of the "visionary" moments,in symphonies 4 & 6.

I must admit,I've half a mind to defy this software and pop up to the attic and buy the danacord,as well! If I had last week again,much as I love The Greek Passion,I might actually be recommending you this opera,instead!! (I must.........resist!!!! ) That said,The Greek Passion is a very different opera. You just can't compare. They're both great,imho! (As they say!).

[cilgwyn]

From a Gramophone review (which you read online,without that "pop-up" thing,appearing,to stop you! (Do they know about,"Printscreen"?!!).

"there are extraordinary excursions along the way, into Korngoldian opulence, Janaeek, late Nielsen, 1950s expressionism as in Bernd Alois Zimmermann, and a clumsy Ravelian waltz in scene 4 that dissolves into the kind of heart-stopping violin solo one finds in Havergal Brian's later symphonies".

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2001/Apr01/antichrist.htm

https://www.gramophone.co.uk/review/langgaard-antichrist

http://www.classical.net/music/recs/reviews/m/mpl10402dvda.php

[vandermolen]

Thank you Karl, cilgwyn and SurprisedByBeauty - I guess that you have talked me into it, especially as I can now obtain a copy for about £10 which is much better than £120 and saves me having to sell my wife and daughter to obtain the necessary funding (the cat is quite safe however). Also, the reviews that cilgwyn kindly posted mentioned some of my other favourite works including John Foulds's 'World Requiem' (I was lucky enough to attend the first live performance of it in over 80 years at the Albert Hall in London - a CD of the performance was released by Chandos). Also 'Morning Heroes' by Bliss and I was interested to hear that the eponymous 'Antikrist' is the same figure as Apollyon (not to be confused with Apollo 8) in Vaughan Williams's 'Pilgrim's Progress' - one of the few operas I love (although VW said it was not an opera). Some of the reviews of Antikrist make it sound like Gerry Goldsmith's 'Black Mass' from 'Damien Omen II' - itself a terrific score, especially in the opening section's use of the Jew's Harp. Still, I must take the plunge with 'Antikrist' - I have a lot of time for old Rued and the opening of 'Sinfonia Interna' is one of the most beautiful openings of any work I know.

By the way, cilgwyn, I'm very interested and impressed by your 'painting, art-work and novel writing' reference.

[SymphonicAddict]

On,now! After twiddling my finger's through Flotow's Martha  and quite enjoying Rimsky Korsakov's Sadko (magnificent,old school Russian singing under Golovanov;albeit rough sound!) this is just full of imaginative ideas. Allot of it is very beautiful,exciting,and a bit mind (and ear) boggling to listen to. You don't need a libretto to enjoy it. Langgaard always seems to come second to Nielsen,when comparisons are made;but isn't there a case for this being,some kind of,eccentric masterpiece?!! Whether it is,or not;I find it an astonishing work. I can't think of anything quite like it. Yet,it seems to "work"!



I hate to say this;knowing the possible impact on bank balances ......but it strikes me that this wild,wacky and thoroughly extraordinary work (I've never heard anything else,quite like it!) is another opera that vandermolen might possibly enjoy?!! I wouldn't even compare it what anyone would normally regard as a opera. It's more like some kind of huge tone poem,with bit's of operatic singing,in some ways. The sound world is very reminiscent,to my ears,of some of the more "visionary" symphonies;particularly No's 4-6 (and maybe,No 10,as well). And a bit of his Music of the Spheres,maybe,thrown in?!! Some of the sounds (including shouting,pounding percussion,organ on full throttle,bells!!) really are,sonically,thrilling! Absolutely,Wow!!

What I can say is I've been very encouraged by your great description of Antikrist and I definitely have to hear it. Count me as another big fan of Langgaard.

[vandermolen]

I've ordered Antikrist now. 

[Mirror Image]

Antikrist is a great opera. It's ridiculous plot aside, the music within is awesome. The Dausgaard recording is self-recommending, especially if you already own Dausgaard's other Langgaard recordings.

[SymphonicAddict]

My first impressions about Antikrist are very favorable! An exceptional work it is without any doubt. The scoring is so rich as Langgaard knows to do. The music is magical, mystical, stormy, dramatic, with some Straussian touches... in short: quite convincing. I can hear reminiscences from the Symphony No. 6 (another work that involves superhuman forces). Also, there is a prelude for every scene, which shows a strong orchestral part in the work. It's not a heavy opera since its duration is circa 92 min., very approachable.

The phylosophical background is possibly the main reason that attracted my attention to this fascinating piece. This text is taken from the Langgaard's webpage:

"Antichrist is a philosophical-religious opera about the decline and (spiritual) fall of western civilization. It is an "atmospheric fantasia over our time", pillorying the modern lifestyle and mentality and warning against all-pervasive egoism and materialism at the expense of the spiritual values of existence. The message of the opera is that society and culture are digging their own grave but that the individual human being can find hope by becoming aware of the state of the world and opening up towards the divine."

I couldn't agree more. These words are even more accurate in this epoch, where there is much indifference to some problems that burden us.

Antikrist is clearly one of his best works, an automatic favorite of mine.

[vandermolen]

Thank you Caesar and John. I look forward to receiving the work. I ordered the live performance on Danacord for reasons of price. I'm really looking forward to hearing it.

[cilgwyn]

Yes,I think I will raid the attic,a bit later (for that password) and buy a copy,myself. It strikes me that,like Brian's Gothic (and probably,more so) Langgaards opera is a work which benefits from being heard in a live performance! You won't get such lush strings or fine tuned sonic perfection,but you'll get that raw experience of something actually happening on a stage. Anyway,I can't stand the thought of you sitting there enjoying a more viscerally,raw,edge of the seat,exciting performance than the one I've got!! Normally,I would,definitely,stick to a studio recording of an opera. But,this is the kind of opera,that really almost redefines what opera is all about,anyway!
It also,does help,that it's cheaper!! Incidentally,I listened to the Prelude yesterday. It's very beautiful;but I was thinking,you won't get any idea of what the opera is like,from listening to that! In fact,if you only knew it from the Prelude,you'd be in for a bit of a surprise!!
I noticed that a performance by Ole Schmidt was recorded,and,subsequently,released,on Lp. I saw the cover artwork of the emi release,while I was looking for photos of the cd's for the "What are you listening to now?" thread. Has anyone heard this recording? I never came across it! Langgaard and Brian? Schmidt was adventurous. His performance of the Gothic is my all time favourite!

      

[cilgwyn]

My first impressions about Antikrist are very favorable! An exceptional work it is without any doubt. The scoring is so rich as Langgaard knows to do. The music is magical, mystical, stormy, dramatic, with some Straussian touches... in short: quite convincing. I can hear reminiscences from the Symphony No. 6 (another work that involves superhuman forces). Also, there is a prelude for every scene, which shows a strong orchestral part in the work. It's not a heavy opera since its duration is circa 92 min., very approachable.

The phylosophical background is possibly the main reason that attracted my attention to this fascinating piece. This text is taken from the Langgaard's webpage:

"Antichrist is a philosophical-religious opera about the decline and (spiritual) fall of western civilization. It is an "atmospheric fantasia over our time", pillorying the modern lifestyle and mentality and warning against all-pervasive egoism and materialism at the expense of the spiritual values of existence. The message of the opera is that society and culture are digging their own grave but that the individual human being can find hope by becoming aware of the state of the world and opening up towards the divine."

I couldn't agree more. These words are even more accurate in this epoch, where there is much indifference to some problems that burden us.

Antikrist is clearly one of his best works, an automatic favorite of mine.

I suppose,some might say,that,in that respect,Langgaard's message is even more pertinent than ever?!! Someone suggested ,in the "What are you listening to now?"thread,that Karl's choice of listening (and mine,I suppose?) was an odd choice for the Easter weekend. On the basis of the title of the opera,alone,I can understand that observation (Shades of,The Omen,Damian! ) but,if you actually know anything about the work,it is actually very appropriate to the occasion! I don't want to get into religion here. But,if you are a Christian,of a religious persuasion,or merely in despair of a perceived drift towards materialism,in our society,at the expense of spiritual values;this could,actually,be just the right music to put on!!

I'm listening to Ambroise Thomas' opera,Mignon,now. This is the sort of opera you definitely,don't like,vandermolen!!

[cilgwyn]

Here it is! And who wouldn't want this?!!  I'm not usually keen on 'live' recordings,with some exceptions,I might add;but a live recording of this work does seem to make sense,to me! I envy you,SuprisedByBeauty! I note that the performance is in German,though. Never mind. Buy both!! I'll put this on my list,forthwith! See vandermolen.....more expense!!

Bought my copy,online,yesterday! Thanks,for the post,SurprisedByBeauty. I think I (we'll?) enjoy this!!

[SurprisedByBeauty]

Bought my copy,online,yesterday! Thanks,for the post,SurprisedByBeauty. I think I (we'll?) enjoy this!!

Yay! Do enjoy! I hope I didn't lead you astray.  (Fairly confident that I didn't.)