Welcome to this episode with music from the British-German composer Max Richter.
Smooth neoclassicism meets tantalizing post-minimalism. The British-German composer Max Richter writes music that seems too good to be true, embracing tonality and the pure beauty of sounds without any restraints. He is currently one of the most well-loved contemporary composers, and performed in a sold-out Carré theatre in Amsterdam last November.
You can hear influences of different composers in his music, like Michael Nyman, Ennio Morricone and Philip Glass. His often serene music works for Richter like a remedy for a disengaged world.
This episode, we’ll listen to some of his well-known works as well as play you some of his lesser- known works. For instance, some compositions from his early days at the British ensemble Piano Circus, that play a lot of 20th-century minimalism. We chose a new, spectacular version of his classic Recomposed: Vivaldi’s Four Seasons from violinist Daniel Rowland and the Stift Festival Orchestra.
Playlist
Max Richter:
- On the Nature of Daylight (2004) for orkest, on Max Richter-The Blue Notebooks
Max Richter orchestra conducted by Lorenz Dangel
Deutsche Grammophon 4835014 CD - Mirrors (2020-2021) for piano, on Max Richter-Voices 2
Max Richter (keys)
Decca 4855323 CD - Solitaries (2020-2021) for organ, on Max Richter-Voices 2
Max Richter (organ)
Decca 4855323 CD - Prelude 2 (2020-2021) for violin and piano, on Max Richter-Voices 2
Max Richter (keys) + Mari Samuelsen (violin).
Decca 4855323 CD - Little Requiems (2020-2021) for choir and chamber orchestra, on Max Richter-Voices 2
Max Richter (keys) + Ian Burdge (cello) + orchestra conducted by Robert Ziegler
Decca 4855323 CD - Path 5 (delta) (2015) for keys, string quintet en soprano, on Max Richter – From Sleep
Max Richter (keys) + American Contemporary Music Ensemble + Grace Davidson (soprano)
Deutsche Grammophon 4795257 CD - Dream 8 (late and soon) (2015) for keys, string quintet and soprano, on Max Richter – From Sleep
Max Richter (keys) + American Contemporary Music Ensemble + Grace Davidson (soprano)
Deutsche Grammophon 4795257 CD - Rain, Sun, etc. (1993-1994) for piano sextet, on Piano Circus – Loopholes
Piano Circus Argo-Decca 443 527-2 CD - ‘Gongstream’ (1993-1994) for piano sextet, on Piano Circus – Loopholes
Piano Circus Argo-Decca 443 527-2 CD
10-23. Recomposed: Vivaldi’s Four Seasons (2012) for violin and orchestra, at ‘Max Richter – Recomposed: Vivaldi’s Four Seasons’.
Daniel Rowland (violin) + Stift Festival Orchestra.
Challenge Classics CC72978 CD
