andantemoderato.com | Music is a journey

Smetana: Vltava (The Moldau)

Gimnazija Kranj Symphony Orchestra performs Smetana's "Vltava", also known by its English name "The Moldau"

Conducted by Nejc Bečan, the Gimnazija Kranj Symphony Orchestra performs Bedřich Smetana’s famous symphonic poem “Vltava”, also known by its English name “The Moldau”.

The piece is from the symphonic cycle Má Vlast (“My Homeland”), which portrays the history, legends, and landscape of the composer’s native Bohemia. It was composed between 20 November and 8 December 1874 and was premiered on 4 April 1875 under Adolf Čech (11 December 1841 – 27 December 1903), the Czech conductor who also premiered a number of significant works by Antonín Dvořák.

Mario Del Monaco concert (1969)

1969 concert of the legendary Italian tenor Mario Del Monaco. Recorded on March 8, 1969. An amazing performance by Del Monaco singing heavy operatic repertoire at the age of 54.

How Beethoven’s ‘mistake’ became one of our most famous tunes

Scott Davie, University of Sydney

In our series Decoding the music masterpieces, music experts explain key works of classical music.

Without question, the final movement of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony contains one of the most famous tunes ever written. Since its first performance in 1824, the “Ode to Joy” has been repurposed in endless ways, both reverential and exploitative, from performances at the Berlin Wall to its use in tawdry advertising.

Bach – Orchestral Suite No. 2 BWV 1067 (full)

Orkiestra Historyczna performs Bach - Orchestral Suite No. 2

Polish-based early music orchestra {oh!} Orkiestra Historyczna performs Johann Sebastian Bach’s Orchestral Suite No. 2 in B minor, BWV 1067. Recorded on March 23, 2013, as the Final Concert of Festiwal “Musica Poetica” in Tarnow, Poland.

Bach: BWV 1067 Suite – Badinerie (Croatian Baroque Orchestra)

The Croatian Baroque Orchestra performs “Badinerie” from Johann Sebastian Bach’s Orchestral Suite No. 2 in B minor, BWV 1067. Recorded on November 21, 2010, at the Croatian Music Institute. Baroque flute (soloist): Ana Benić.

Beethoven – Moonlight Sonata, 3rd Mvt. (Marnie Laird)

The 3rd movement (Presto Agitato) of Ludwig Van Beethoven’s “Moonlight” Sonata No. 14, Op. 27, No. 2 performed live on piano by Marnie Laird for Brooklyn Classical.

Stutzmann & Jaroussky – Recording Handel duet “Son nata a lagrimar”

Nathalie Stutzmann & Philippe Jaroussky - Recording Handel duet "Son nata a lagrimar"

French operatic contralto and conductor Nathalie Stutzmann and the French countertenor Philippe Jaroussky record George Frideric Handel ‘s duet “Son nata a lagrimar”. Stutzmann also conducts her superb musicians playing on Baroque instruments (Orfeo 55). This famous Cornelia and Sesto duet is from Giulio Cesare in Egitto (Italian for “Julius Caesar in Egypt”, HWV 17), commonly known as Giulio Cesare, a dramma per musica (opera seria) in three acts.

Bach: Harpsichord Concerto No.1 (Jean Rondeau)

French harpsichordist Jean Rondeau plays Johann Sebastian Bach’s Harpsichord Concerto No.1 in D Minor, BWV 1052.

Decoding the music masterpieces: Bach’s Six Solo Cello Suites

Zoltan Szabo, University of Sydney

Johann Sebastian Bach’s Six Solo Cello Suites are some of the most iconic classical music works. They have inspired not only cellists and audiences but other artforms as well, and they have been featured in ballet and theatre productions, even in films.

Bach – Matthäus Passion: Erbarme dich (Guillon)

Accompanied by the Choir and Orchestra of Collegium Vocale Ghent, the French countertenor Damien Guillon sings “Erbarme dich, mein Gott” (English: Have mercy, my God), an aria for contralto, solo violin, strings (originally 2 violins and 1 viola) and basso continuo, from the sacred oratorio “Matthäus-Passion” (English: St Matthew Passion), BWV 244 written by Johann Sebastian Bach in 1727. Solo violin: Sophie Gent, the Australian violinist. Musical director: Philippe Herreweghe.