John Corigliano

[BitPerfectRichard]

It's nearly 7 years since this thread last saw the light of day, but - HEY! - I happen to like Corigliano's Symphony No 1 very much indeed.  I have both the Barenboim and Slatkin recordings, plus a "private" recording by Judd and the Florida Philharmonic that was professionally recorded but never issued.  I find this is a symphony that has grown on me over the years and stands comparison with the wider established repertoire.  Happily, I am told it is still played quite regularly, if not recorded.

Interestingly, the Tarantella (2nd movement) is a depiction of a friend of Corigliano whose mental state was affected by his AIDS affliction such that he developed a Tourette's-like condition.  There is a related piece called Tarantella from Gazebo Dances, which depicts the same person prior to his affliction.  There are great videos of Peter Stanley Martin conducting both of these pieces on YouTube that are instructive to watch (albeit with low video quality).  I'd pay good money to hear that guy take a professional orchestra through Symphony No 1.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLR3QZ4esAY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHqHleU0l90

[SimonNZ]

I find Corigliano's work to be very uneven, peaks and valleys, but I've now heard enough that I've liked very much to listen whenever something new comes along.

Looking over this brief thread I see that nobody has yet mentioned his 2007 percussion concerto "Conjurer", which I'd say was not only one of his best works, but among the best works by anyone from recent years:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYy-mFPgy10

[amw]

I don't sense much genuine depth in his music; it seems to be going more for effect/impact on the listener rather than appealing either to the intellect or to the soul, if you understand my meaning.

I pretty much agree with this—my impressions have been the opposite of Simon's, with works that initially seem impressive not repaying further listening. eg the Symphony No 1 was a powerful work on first listen, but on subsequent listens it started to become apparent how thin the musical material was and how little it was actually developed, and the overall impression ended up being an insubstantial work in spite of its 'message' and attempts at creating an emotional charge.

I have the same problem with some works by Shostakovich and Schnittke among others (though partly due to prolifixity (sp?) I guess, they could transcend this when they put the time in—I haven't heard anything like that from Corigliano, who remains an "effects" composer for me), with material chosen for semiotic shorthand rather than actual musical substance.

[Maestro267]

At the moment, I only have A Dylan Thomas Trilogy in my collection, but I certainly want to get a recording of Symphony No. 1 at some point. Circus Maximus is a work on my radar as well, with its offstage ensembles.

[BitPerfectRichard]

I just picked up an obscure Japanese recording of Symphony No 1 By Tatsuya Shimono conducting the Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra on the Avex Classics label SACD.  It is a refreshingly different interpretation, rather well thought out and very nicely recorded.  Its delivers some valid new ideas about the Symphony.  While Shimono seems to have a clear enough vision of the piece, one gets the impression that the orchestra itself is politely holding back, almost as thought they have either been under-rehearsed (unlikely) or collectively aren't 'getting' the piece yet.  I formed the impression that Shimono has extracted all there is to be had from this orchestra.  Symphony No 1 has to be played with total commitment to be convincing, and while the orchestra's physical commitment is in evidence, the emotional commitment is lacking.  Does that make sense?   Nonetheless, this performance exceeds Slatkin in vision and interpretation as well as in recording quality, and is overall the best of the four recordings I own.  It also enhances Shimono's reputation.

[Maestro267]

2 days ago I bought the new Naxos recording of Symphony No. 1. Giving it a second listen now, and I'm really enjoying this work. The fortissimo climaxes are overwhelming and wild, especially at the end of the Tarantella and the Chaconne.

[Scion7]

Marked for investigation at some later date ....

[BitPerfectRichard]

2 days ago I bought the new Naxos recording of Symphony No. 1. Giving it a second listen now, and I'm really enjoying this work. The fortissimo climaxes are overwhelming and wild, especially at the end of the Tarantella and the Chaconne.

Thanks for this.  I'm listening to it now on a free Hi-Res download stream at http://shop.classicsonline.com/albums/575f5c6551e88c8b4ccfd1e5?type=download and I have to say I rather like it.  I expect I will buy this, but before I do I'm pinging Naxos to see if I can't score a DSD version ... if one exists.

[Christabel]

I have been investigating this American composer's works of late and find most of them compelling.  Here's his wonderful Clarinet Concerto, and played here with extraordinary virtuosity:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUE5dL4ipZk

[relm1]

I have been investigating this American composer's works of late and find most of them compelling.  Here's his wonderful Clarinet Concerto, and played here with extraordinary virtuosity:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUE5dL4ipZk

That's a fantastic work but I find the LSO/Richard Stoltzman a more memorable performance but the movements are on separate links.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSeCn-5dUSw

[foxandpeng]

I don't know Corigliano well enough to make any sort of meaningful assessment (and any subsequent assessment will only be meaningful to me, anyway), but I am surprised at the minimal engagement with him across the forum. I know that there are many competing voices for our attention, but the endorsements below (taken from his own website, admittedly) make me curious as to his music.

Probably time I listened.

John is easily one of the great composers of the 20th and 21st Century. Besides being beautifully constructed and incredibly well written for the players and listeners, John's music achieves that consummate goal of changing people's lives, moving them beyond their normal realms and enabling them to exist in an enhanced space. This, for me, is what great art is meant to do.
Marin Alsop

John Corigliano is one of the most talented composers I know of today.
Leonard Bernstein

I believe him to be one of the most gifted composers of his generation in America.
Sir Georg Solti


Corigliano is fast becoming established as one of our finest composers. His music is clear, strong, magnificently constructed and, wonder of wonders, directly appealing to a large public.
William Schuman

Starting to listen with Corigliano's Symphony 1, conducted by Daniel Barenboim with the Chicago SO. Good a place as any, I guess.

[JBS]

I don't know Corigliano well enough to make any sort of meaningful assessment (and any subsequent assessment will only be meaningful to me, anyway), but I am surprised at the minimal engagement with him across the forum. I know that there are many competing voices for our attention, but the endorsements below (taken from his own website, admittedly) make me curious as to his music.

Probably time I listened.

John is easily one of the great composers of the 20th and 21st Century. Besides being beautifully constructed and incredibly well written for the players and listeners, John's music achieves that consummate goal of changing people's lives, moving them beyond their normal realms and enabling them to exist in an enhanced space. This, for me, is what great art is meant to do.
Marin Alsop

John Corigliano is one of the most talented composers I know of today.
Leonard Bernstein

I believe him to be one of the most gifted composers of his generation in America.
Sir Georg Solti


Corigliano is fast becoming established as one of our finest composers. His music is clear, strong, magnificently constructed and, wonder of wonders, directly appealing to a large public.
William Schuman

Starting to listen with Corigliano's Symphony 1, conducted by Daniel Barenboim with the Chicago SO. Good a place as any, I guess.

He suffers from being well-established among the musical establishment. I do like a lot of what I've heard from him, but sometimes it seems somewhat superficial, and I'm not sure it has staying power.

I do recommend his recent opera


[Adamo is the librettist.]

[foxandpeng]

He suffers from being well-established among the musical establishment. I do like a lot of what I've heard from him, but sometimes it seems somewhat superficial, and I'm not sure it has staying power.

I do recommend his recent opera


[Adamo is the librettist.]

Thank you 😊

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

I only own a few Corigliano recordings and I have never been able to fully connect with his music. He's basically a Neo-Romantic composer, but his language just doesn't appeal to me like other American Neo-Romantics like Barber or Christopher Rouse.

@foxandpeng perhaps you can get something out of his music, but I haven't yet figured him out.

[foxandpeng]

I only own a few Corigliano recordings and I have never been able to fully connect with his music. He's basically a Neo-Romantic composer, but his language just doesn't appeal to me like other American Neo-Romantics like Barber or Christopher Rouse.

@foxandpeng perhaps you can get something out of his music, but I haven't yet figured him out.

I'm willing to give it a go, at least. I suspect it may require repeated listening to a range of compositions, but that is often the case for me. I would at least like to understand the praise and commendations directed toward him, and become familiar with what I can.

I might really appreciate him, as some of my most loved composers have been acquired that way. We shall see 👀 😊

[San Antone]

One of his more interesting works, IMO, is his setting of seven lyrics by Bob Dylan.



But as interesting as it is, I still prefer the originals.

[foxandpeng]

Still working on Symphony #1, here 

Third time through today, and growing on me.