Word: e-flat
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Barenboim Conducts Elgar's Symphony No. 2 in E-Flat, Opus 63 (London Phil harmonic Orchestra, Columbia; $5.98). Wildly famous in his day, the stately, sunlit tonal landscapes of Sir Edward Elgar withered before the 20th century's neoclassic revolt. Elgar died nearly forgotten in 1934. In this stylish reading of the E-flat symphony Daniel Barenboim takes a fresh look at the elegant Edwardian, holding a course of gentle restraint against an exuberance of leaping octaves and rolling timpani. Barenboim reclaims the Elgar grandeur without losing any of the buoyancy that captivated 19th century audiences...
...transformed into an eloquent cascade of accusation, bitter mockery and, finally, deranged wailing. The voice sparkled and soared, flicking through the florid intricacies of the music with the phenomenal speed and accuracy that have made Sills one of the most spectacular singers in the world. When the last high E-flat had died away and Lucia had toppled in death, the benefit audience, many of whom had paid $100 for their seats, shouted and clapped for seven minutes while Beverly Sills paced before the curtain, perspiring with a 103° temperature and happily dodging bouquets of roses...
Some conductors prefer Beethoven, others Wagner. Some like sopranos, others tenors. Conductor Peter Maag's rather specialized preference is for the key of E-flat major. "Tonalities are like colors," he explains. "Have you noticed that when Mozart attacks E-flat he al ways uses clarinets, and when he attacks D-major he always uses oboes? E-flat suggests something very mature and saturated. D-major music is whiter and sharper. E-flat suggests a dark tone, a dark color like dark blue or green...
Last week at Lincoln Center's Mozart-Haydn Festival, Maag demonstrated his preoccupation in a concert with the New York Chamber Orchestra. Three of the four works were in E-flat -Mozart's Symphony No. 39, and Haydn's Trumpet Concerto and "Schoolmaster" Symphony (which he conducted from the harpsichord). Maag also programmed Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 23, but that was scored in A-major, and everybody pretended not to notice...
...next night, Maag was back again in Philharmonic Hall repeating his triumph with a program that included Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 26, but was climaxed by Haydn's "Drumroll" Symphony. Key of E-flat...