TEA FOR TWO - Songs and Chansons from the Belle-Époque to the Roaring 20s (Decouture, Brocard, Frivol'Ensemble)

Alexander Moyzes was one of the most significant figures in modern Slovak music, synthesizing the national musical style inherited from his teacher Vitezslav Novak with wider European contemporary trends. Both of these symphonies were written in a happy period of the composer’s life- before his musical oeuvre was overshadowed by conflict. The eloquent and sprightly Fifth Symphony is a celebration of ‘the heritage of my dear father,’ who was also a talented musician and an important figure in Alexander’s development as a composer. The Sixth Symphony is notable for its clarity and symmetry, from the simple theme of its opening to the brilliant contrapuntal fugato in its closing movement. This is Volume 3 in a series of reissues from the Marco Polo label. These releases remain as the only easily accessible reference, and with recordings and performances that still sound fresh and invigorating. Of the original release, MusicWeb International commented: “There are definite folk inflections, all incisively propelled by the late Ladislav Slovak and his orchestra who presumably know these symphonies better than anyone.”