Grace Williams (1906 - 1977): 7-11/7/25

[Ein Heldenleben]

I couldn't agree more! The thought of being forced to sit through a whole Wagner opera, or more than a couple of minutes of Piazzolla, is frankly appalling, but who am I to assess their stature as composers? Michael Berkeley thinks J S Bach is God, but if I was forced to name my own choice it would always be, as it always has been, Mozart.
I'm sure Grace would have been delighted to read your second paragraph, but suspect that Benjamin's reaction would very probably have been, at the very least, a stony silence.

The uncanny similarity of the opening of The Missa Cambrensis (now on live ) to his War Requiem Kyrie might have got more him a bit more animated. Particularly since the latter was composed nearly a decade earlier. Imitation is the sincerest etc etc

[vinteuil]

Another possibly daunting title for what is a delightfully enjoyable work is 'Symphonic Metamorphosis on themes by Carl Maria von Weber'.
I wonder how popular The Young Person's Guide To The Orchestra would be if it was known only by its rather more formal title.

... and the glorious title of another lovely Hindemith piece -

" Ouvertüre zum "Fliegenden Holländer", wie sie eine schlechte Kurkapelle morgens um 7 am Brunnen vom Blatt spielt"

[ "Overture to the Flying Dutchman as Sight-read by a Bad Spa Orchestra at 7 in the Morning by the Well" ]

.

[LMcD]

... and the glorious title of another lovely Hindemith piece -

" Ouvertüre zum "Fliegenden Holländer", wie sie eine schlechte Kurkapelle morgens um 7 am Brunnen vom Blatt spielt"

[ "Overture to the Flying Dutchman as Sight-read by a Bad Spa Orchestra at 7 in the Morning by the Well" ]

.

It so happens that this afternoon's 'Classical Live' includes both the overture to The Flying Dutchman and Grace Willaims's 1st symphony, which I'm currently enjoying.