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Label Challenge Classics |
UPC 0608917271423 |
Catalogue number CC 72714 |
Release date 11 March 2016 |
"James Gaffigan’s Classical is humorous and absolutely charming. And in the totally different context of the Fifth Symphony, he detects similar moods. The Netherlands Radio Orchestra is brilliant, and the Challenge Classics sound recording very transparent."
Pizzicato, 15-6-2017The Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra (RFO), founded in 1945, is an essential link in the Dutch music life. The RFO performs symphonic concerts and operas in concert, as well as many world- and Netherlands premieres. Most concerts take place in the context of concert series NTR ZaterdagMatinee (the Royal Concertgebouw in Amsterdam), the AVROTROS Vrijdagconcert series (TivoliVredenburg in Utrecht), broadcasted live on NPO Radio 4 and regularly televised.
Markus Stenz was appointed chiefconductor in 2012, after predecessor as Bernard Haitink, Jean Fournet, Willem van Otterloo, Hans Vonk, Edo de Waart and Jaap van Zweden. The RFO has worked with internationally highly regarded conductors such as Leopold Stokowski, Kirill Kondrashin, Antal Doráti, Charles Dutoit, Michael Tilson Thomas, Gennady Rozhdestvensky, Mariss Jansons, Peter Eötvös, Vladimir Jurowski and Valery Gergiev. The American conductor James Gaffigan is principal guest conductor since the season 2011-2012; Bernard Haitink has connected his name to the RFO as patron.
The RFO has build an extensive cd catalogue, with works by contemporary composers such as Jonathan Harvey, Klas Torstensson, James MacMillan and Jan van Vlijmen, the registration of Wagner's Parsifal , Lohengrin, die Meistersinger von Nürnberg. Complete symphonies of Bruckner, Rachmaninow, Shostakovich and Hartmann have been released in recent years. The release of Simplicius Simplicissimus (K.A. Hartmann) has especially received the highest international critical acclaim. The RFO has been awarded the Edison Classical Oeuvre Award 2014 for its longstanding essential contribution to Dutch musical life.
James Gaffigan’s Classical is humorous and absolutely charming. And in the totally different context of the Fifth Symphony, he detects similar moods. The Netherlands Radio Orchestra is brilliant, and the Challenge Classics sound recording very transparent.
Pizzicato, 15-6-2017
"Gaffigan loosens the notes from the musicpaper on a magical way."
De Volkskrant, 01-10-2016
Review Amadeus Magazine
Amadeus, 16-9-2016
First, James Gaffigan's view of these works is passionate, and he's more overt about that passion than is Valery Gergiev in his traversal. This is Prokofiev with weight and wit. In particular, symphonies 3 and 6 stand with my favorite performances, by Abbado and Weller, respectively (both on Decca LPs). Second, the Netherlands RPO carries it all off with power and precision. Third, the engineering by Bert van der Wolf is spectacular, with a spacious soundstage and formidable bass.
Stereophile, 05-9-2016
"With these forces Gaffigan is not only faced with an artistic challenge, what this symphony undoubtedly is, but also with an enormous management one: Holding the various groups together in a coherent and harmonious way."
NorthStar Recording Services BV, 24-8-2016
The Netherlands RPO carries it all off with power and precision. Third, the engineering by Bert van der Wolf is spectacular, with a spacious soundstage and formidable bass.
Stereophile, 30-6-2016
Radio 4 Plaatpaal
NTR Radio 4 Plaatpaal, 24-4-2016
"Prokofiev shows that even with simple resources you can reach great sophistication."
Het Parool, 22-3-2016