Michael Tilson Thomas is an expert Ivesian. His 1970 recording debut was with Three Places in New England, still available from DG. Here, he redoes the work with the interpolation of a chorus singing the poem on which the ... more »last movement, "The Housatonic at Stockbridge," is based--unusual, not as effective as the orchestral version, but fascinating. Tilson Thomas cites Ives's desire for performers to creatively shape his music, and this disc vindicates his editorial liberties by making Ives's surprising music even more unpredictable. The choral contributions are fine, too, but baritone Thomas Hampson steals the show with seven songs that display his empathy with Ives's varied styles and the range of the composer's music, from cowboy songs to touching elegies. The way Hampson bellows a Brooklynese "Coytin" (for "Curtain") at the end of the first song of Memories is worth the price of purchase. Here's a disc to be entertained by, and moved as well. The recording was made at SFS concerts, and we're privileged to share the audience's experience. A must-have for Ivesians and the curious. --Dan Davis« less
Michael Tilson Thomas is an expert Ivesian. His 1970 recording debut was with Three Places in New England, still available from DG. Here, he redoes the work with the interpolation of a chorus singing the poem on which the last movement, "The Housatonic at Stockbridge," is based--unusual, not as effective as the orchestral version, but fascinating. Tilson Thomas cites Ives's desire for performers to creatively shape his music, and this disc vindicates his editorial liberties by making Ives's surprising music even more unpredictable. The choral contributions are fine, too, but baritone Thomas Hampson steals the show with seven songs that display his empathy with Ives's varied styles and the range of the composer's music, from cowboy songs to touching elegies. The way Hampson bellows a Brooklynese "Coytin" (for "Curtain") at the end of the first song of Memories is worth the price of purchase. Here's a disc to be entertained by, and moved as well. The recording was made at SFS concerts, and we're privileged to share the audience's experience. A must-have for Ivesians and the curious. --Dan Davis
"Michael Tilson Thomas makes a welcome move to RCA in his newest serving of Charles Ives. Hitherto, his best known Ives recording have all been on Sony. While excellent all in performance the sound quality was substandard (as is Sony's wont). In this we have some exquisite and fairly obscure Ives pieces. The rousing "General William Booth Enters into Heavan" is alone worth the price. Ives is manly known to listeners as a composer of disonant orchestral works. This only gives us a limited perspective of an artist who was as diverse in sentiment as he was in invention. The small and delightful songs on this disc will expand our awareness of one who is probably our greatest composer."
Superb sampling of a national treasure
Grady Harp | Los Angeles, CA United States | 04/17/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Charles Ives' music was so ahead of his time when it was written that he became known to the public as an eccentric whose music was only of academic importance, hardly listenable, rarely worth programming. But it has taken the likes of Michael Tilson Thomas to place Ives in the roster of American Genius Composers where he so justly belongs. This new recording (live recording in Davies Hall in San Francisco) has a brilliant sound that adds to the magnificence of the larger Ives orchestral works (this must surely be the finest sounding "Three Places in New England" and "The Unanswered Question" available). But the joy of this particular collection of Ives' output is the inclusion of the whimsy and raucous songs both with piano (Thomas) and orchestral accompaniment. Thomas Hampson is the grateful choice for the songs and he sings with an abandon apropos of the texts. The San Franciso Symphony and Chorus are in top form as is Thomas. This recording is such a joy that it pleads the case for capturing live recording over studio dry redubs. A tribute to all involved - especially Ives!"
The Mood of Time
hille2000 | USA | 06/14/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This collection of Ives compositions is exceptional. This CD makes for very good listening. I play it when I am alone in the car. The pensive music realy captures the mood of time."
A superb evening of Ives, the best in decades
Santa Fe Listener | Santa Fe, NM USA | 12/18/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Tilson Thomas's PR team should put out a ocntract on me; I rarely express enthusiasm for him. So let me bow especially low to this superlative 1999 concert of Ives as viewed from his most melodic, least revolutionary perspective. This is Ives as recording angel of ice cream socials and Fourth of July parades.
In the Seventies MTT made good but not exceptioanl recordings of Ives's major orchestral works. Here he concentrates on songs and orchestral bits and pieces, except for the extended Three Places in New England, which is x-rayed with exceptionally detailed sonics. Thomas Hampson secures his position as the best singer of American songs with highly dramatized, unbuttoned singing--his Charlie Rutlage, a Texas-accented elegy for a fallen cowpoke, and the familiar General William Booth Enters Into Heaven are instant classics. Chorus and orchestra enter in the spirit of bumptious good cheer, and overall a good time was had by all, even though the crowd was sent home sobered up by the supernaturally melancholy Unanswered Question, which never fails to send a shiver through the listener."