Copland, Ravel & Stravinsky: Symphonic Dances Park Avenue Chamber Symphony & David Bernard

• Aaron Copland (1900 - 1990): Appalachian Spring Suite:
• 1Appalachian Spring Suite: I. Very Slowly. Introduction03:13
• 2Appalachian Spring Suite: II. Allegro02:48
• 3Appalachian Spring Suite: III. Moderato. Duo for the Bride and Her Intended03:26
• 4Appalachian Spring Suite: IV. Fast. The Revivalist and His Flock03:25
• 5Appalachian Spring Suite: V. Allegro. Solo Dance of the Bride03:08
• 6Appalachian Spring Suite: VI. Very Slowly02:26
• 7Appalachian Spring Suite: VII. Doppio movimento "Variations on a Shaker Hymn"02:54
• 8Appalachian Spring Suite: VIII. Moderato03:31
• Maurice Ravel (1875 - 1937): Daphnis et Chloé Suite No. 2, M. 57b:
• 9Daphnis et Chloé Suite No. 2, M. 57b: I. Lever de jour06:35
• 10Daphnis et Chloé Suite No. 2, M. 57b: II. Pantomime06:37
• 11Daphnis et Chloé Suite No. 2, M. 57b: III. Danse générale04:33
• Igor Stravinsky (1882 - 1971): The Firebird Suite (1919 Version):
• 12The Firebird Suite (1919 Version): Ia. Introduction03:16
• 13The Firebird Suite (1919 Version): Ib. L'oiseau de feu et sa danse00:17
• 14The Firebird Suite (1919 Version): Ic. Variation de l'oiseau de feu01:32
• 15The Firebird Suite (1919 Version): II. Ronde des princesses04:56
• 16The Firebird Suite (1919 Version): III. Danse infernale du roi Kastchei05:04
• 17The Firebird Suite (1919 Version): IV. Berceuse03:00
• 18The Firebird Suite (1919 Version): V. Finale03:37
• Total Runtime01:04:18

Info for Copland, Ravel & Stravinsky: Symphonic Dances

A procession of acclaimed releases on Recursive Classics now reaches this celebratory album, launching the Park Avenue Chamber Symphonys 20th anniversary season. Conductor David Bernard leads explorations of three brilliant approaches to symphonic ballet music. Coplands Appalachian Spring Suite brings a deeply personal account of a lifes journey through trials and challenges to blissful happiness fueled with strength, integrity and perseverance. Ravels Daphnis et Chloé Suite No. 2 transfixes listeners with a brilliant and passionate celebration of love that contains the greatest of all musical sunrises. Stravinskys Firebird Suite tells the tale of Prince Ivans defeat of the evil Koschei the Immortal with the help of the magical Firebird through a vivid and enchanting musical narrative.

"Maestro Bernard and the Park Avenue Chamber Orchestra do Stravinsky justice. This is music that, as the booklet observes, should "take the listener by storm." Under Bernard's direction, it does. Yet, again, it isn't a totally bombastic storm. It's a gentle storm when necessary, an alternation of calm and turbulence. It comes out one of the most satisfying Firebird Suites I've heard, and makes me wish Bernard had done (or will do) the complete score.

My only gripe is really a mere quibble: Although Recursive Classics provide plenty of tracks, one for each movement of each work, they don't provide actual track numbers anywhere, nor do they provide timings for each selection. It's a curious oversight.

Audio engineers Joseph Patrych, Antonio Oliart, and Joel Watts recorded the music at DiMenna Center for Classical Music, New York City in January 2017 and Good Shepard-Faith Presbyterian Church, NYC in February 2018. The sound is clear and clean, with a nice ambient bloom. It's also quite dynamic, with strong impact, which further adds to the realism (just listen to that "Danse Infernale"). The tonal balance seems ideal as well, with good bass and treble extension, and there's a fair sense of depth and space to the soundstage. Nothing to complain about here." (classicalcandor.blogspot.com)

Park Avenue Chamber Symphony
David Bernard, conductor

David Bernard
has gained recognition for his dramatic and incisive conducting in the United Stated and in over 20 countries on four continents. He serves as Music Director of the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony and the Massapequa Philharmonic. A multiple First Prize winner of the Orchestral Conducting Competition of The American Prize, Bernard was described in the judges’ remarks as, “a first-rate conductor…phenomenal performance…masterly in shaping, phrasing, technique and expressivity.” lucidculture praised Bernard’s recent Lincoln Center performance of Stravinsky’s “The Rite of Spring”: “Conducting from memory, David Bernard led a transcendent performance. Segues were seamless, contrasts were vivid and Stravinsky’s whirling exchanges of voices were expertly choreographed.” Bernard’s complete recorded Beethoven symphony cycle was praised by Fanfare magazine for its “intensity, spontaneity, propulsive rhythm, textural clarity, dynamic control, and well-judged phrasing” (Fanfare). His recent premiere recording of a new edition of Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring was praised by Gramophone as “committed and forceful…(with) thrilling moments”.

Particularly active throughout the greater New York City area, David Bernard has appeared as a guest conductor with orchestras including the Brooklyn Symphony, the Greater Newburgh Symphony Orchestra, the Litha Symphony, Manhattan School of Music, the Massapequa Philharmonic, the New York Symphonic Arts Ensemble, the Putnam Symphony and the South Shore Symphony. Devoted to the music of our own time, he has presented world premières of scores by Bruce Adolphe, Chris Caswell, John Mackey, Ted Rosenthal and Jake Runestad, and distinguished concert collaborators have included Anna Lee, Jeffrey Biegel, Carter Brey, David Chan, Catherine Cho, Adrian Daurov, Pedro Díaz, Edith Dowd, Stanley Drucker, Bart Feller, Ryu Goto, Whoopi Goldberg, Sirena Huang, Judith Ingolfsson, Yevgeny Kutik, Anna Lee, Jessica Lee, Kristin Lee, Jon Manasse, Anthony McGill, Spencer Myer, Todd Phillips, Kristin Sampson and Cameron Schutza.

David Bernard is an acclaimed orchestra builder and is sought after for his artistic leadership and innovation in community engagement. Under his leadership as Music Director, both the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony and the Massapequa Philharmonic have thrived—with growing audiences, expanded ensembles and increased critical acclaim. Bernard’s approach to growing new audiences for classical music include engaging families in the community through schools, presenting multi-media concert presentations and developing a new concert format—“Classical Music from the InsideOut” where audiences sit inside the orchestra during concerts. David Bernard’s InsideOut concerts with the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony and the Massapequa Philharmonic have been acclaimed by WQXR, Newsday, ClassicalWorld and the Epoch Times, bringing an unsurpassed experience and level of engagement for the audiences of all ages.

This album contains no booklet.