BLOCH: ‘Israel’ Symphony; Schelomo (Rhapsody for Cello); Three Jewish Poems - Utah Symphony, Maurice Abravanel, Zara Nelsova, New Zealand Symphony, James Sedares

“Bloch’s Israel Symphony is a large-scale work anticipating the Hollywood film composers’ styles for biblical epics … the vigour and spontaneity of Abravanel’s Utah performances … transferred to CD with great success” [Penguin Guide] “Nelsova’s Schelomo , with Abravanel’s support, is a fitting setting for the cellist who was Bloch’s own choice for the work.” “The Three Jewish Poems hints towards Respighi’s Roman triptych (then yet to be composed) … Bloch’s subtly coloured canvasses seem custom-built for an age increasingly attracted to late-romantic musical tone-painting. We are therefore greatly indebted to Sedares for these clear-headed, sensitively turned performances, extremely well engineered. Anyone with a taste for atmospheric evocations cannot fail to enjoy” [Gramophone]

Trois Poèmes Juifs (Three Jewish Poems) (1913) [25:46]
[1] Dance: Poco animato 8:53
[2] Rite: Calmo (Andante moderato) 7:16
[3] Funeral Procession: Lento assai 9:36

New Zealand Symphony Orchestra / James Sedares

[4] Schelomo, Hebraic Rhapsody for Cello and Orchestra* [19:19]
Zara Nelsova, cello* / Utah Symphony Orchestra / Abravanel

‘Israel’ Symphony [29:10]
[5] Adagio molto, ‘Prayer in the Desert’ 4:30
[6] Allegro agitato, ‘Yom Kippur’ 13:09
[7] Moderato, ‘Succoth’ 11:03

Blanche Christensen & Jean Basinger Fraenkel, sopranos
Christina Politis & Diane Heder, altos Don Watts, bass
Utah Symphony Orchestra / Maurice Abravanel