After a boxed set devoted to nineteenth-century French music (Alpha, 2015) and another containing Beethoven’s symphonies and overtures (Alpha, 2018), Jos Van Immerseel and his period-instrument ensemble Anima Eterna present an anthology of seven CDs including recordings of major nineteenth- and twentieth-century composers of many nationalities. Whether it is Liszt with his symphonic poems, Orff […]
Schubert & Berwald: Chamber music presents two extraordinary chamber works by two composers who, whilst being direct contemporaries, never crossed paths during their lives. Both are grounded in the tradition of septets, octets and larger ensemble pieces for mixed groupings of winds and strings that were popular at the beginning of the nineteenth century, the […]
George Gershwin composed his Rhapsody in Blue in 1924. In the same year, he launched his collaboration with his brother Ira, which produced countless songs. He never achieved his ambition of studying with Maurice Ravel, but was always enthralled by the symphonic poem and the concerto. His masterpieces, such as An American in Paris and […]
As with most of Haydn’s masses, the Missa Cellensis is more well known by its alias,“Cäcilienmesse” (Cecilia Mass), rather than by its original name. Joseph Haydn began work on the mass in 1766, when he assumed the position as Music Director for the princely Court of Esterházy. With its unusually large orchestra and a duration […]
Debussy album is only available through the offices of Anima Eterna Brugge. For orders, contact info@animaeterna.be. Price: €20 (excluding shipping costs).
Dietrich Buxtehude Buxtehude was born more than 350 years ago; at least it is now generally accepted that he was born in 1637. He died on 9 May 1707, having lived unusually long for his time. In 1668, at the age of 31, he found employment at the St. Marienkirche of Lbeck, and continued to […]
Performing Mendelssohn’s fourth and fifth symphonies: problematic or self-explanatory? There is a saying: “Copy one book, and it’s plagiarism. Copy two, and it’s a doctoral dissertation”. The same is true of descriptions and commentaries on music of the past. Certain opinions are copied, translated, rehashed, or inflated, and subsequently go on to lead a life […]
Mendelssohn‘s Camacho: an opera to see with your eyes closed. The (lengthy) letter which Mendelssohn sent to his librettist on 16 January 1824 bears witness to his precocious knowledge of the principles of theatrical writing. One can hardly believe that the author of this letter was only 15 years old. If we are skeptical at […]
Jos van Immerseel and the orchestra ‘Anima Eterna’ On the 7th december 1979, critic Roger Hofmans of the Standaard, Brussels, wrote the following review of van Immerseel’s Clementi recording: “van Immerseel forces you to listen; his articulation is daring, intuitively musical, and the ornaments that belong to the essence of this music have a sculptured […]
Jos van Immerseel and the orchestra ‘Anima Eterna’ On the 7th december 1979, critic Roger Hofmans of the Standaard, Brussels, wrote the following review of van Immerseel’s Clementi recording: “van Immerseel forces you to listen; his articulation is daring, intuitively musical, and the ornaments that belong to the essence of this music have a sculptured […]