In the early 1900s, composer Edward Elgar was also renowned as a conductor of his own music. In 1915, Elgar led the Queen's Hall Orchestra in his beloved miniature, "Salut d'Amour," which translates to "Love's Greeting."
Along with other early recordings of "Salut d'Amour," the listener can hear distinctive approaches to rubato and portamento in the early recordings that create an extraordinary sense of lyricism in the orchestra, inspiring The American Romantics' interpretation.
Tchaikovsky: Andante Cantabile
The American Romantics
Mark Bailey, guest conductor
Violinist Joseph Joachim (1831-1907) was a close friend and collaborator of the great Johannes Brahms. In 1903, when Joachim was 72 years old, he recorded Brahms' Hungarian Dance #2 with a unique virtuosic finesse.
With violin soloist Jessie Chen, the American Romantics perform the second Hungarian Dance, incorporating the folk-like flair as heard on Joachim's 1903 recording.
Mahler: Adagietto from Symphony #5 (excerpt)
The American Romantics
Kevin Sherwin, conductor
Fauré's "Après un rêve," still popular today, was an audience favorite in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Leading sopranos of the time, such as Eide Norena, Maggie Tayte, and Lily Pons, performed and recorded Fauré's precious art song.
In this live performance, soprano Kathryn Aaron performs with orchestral accompaniment, incorporating historical insights from Romantic-era performance styles.
Saint-Saëns' "Danse Macabre" was written in 1874 and based on a French superstition from the Middle Ages. The composition's premiere was not well received because of its revolutionary musical techniques to evoke the haunted affects of the medieval story. Later on, "Danse Macabre" became an audience favorite because of its startling and vivid musical portrayals.