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Stories   >   Yannick Nezet-Seguin gives Florence Price late satisfaction on new DG recording of Symphonies Nos. 1&3 / BR Klassik's

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Yannick Nezet-Seguin gives Florence Price late satisfaction on new DG recording of Symphonies Nos. 1&3 / BR Klassik's

Posted: October 16, 2021 12:00 AM | By: Admin
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Florence Price came to prominence almost ninety years ago, having surmounted systemic barriers to the progress of African-Americans and women in classical music. Much of her music then fell into neglect, however, and has only recently been rediscovered. Among those championing her work today are The Philadelphia Orchestra and its Music Director, Yannick Nézet-Séguin. Their latest Deutsche Grammophon recording, Florence Price · Symphonies Nos. 1 & 3, launches a planned series of recordings celebrating the achievements of the first African-American woman to have a work performed by a major American orchestra. 

BR Klassik's Fridemann Leipold writes.....Canadian conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin is a superstar - he leads the New York Met and the Philadelphia Orchestra. It goes without saying that Nézet-Séguin is capable of the mainstream repertoire. However, the fact that he last recorded symphonies by a now forgotten composer in Philadelphia speaks for his openness and curiosity: Florence Price lived from 1887 to 1953 - and was the first African-American fought for national recognition. Two of her four symphonies have now been released as purely digital albums by Deutsche Grammophon. An exciting listening experience!

Yannick Nézet-Séguin with his Philadelphia Orchestra gives her late satisfaction - the podium star has just the right feeling for the wistful melodies of Florence Price. In her First Symphony she was clearly based on the great role model Dvořák and his Ninth Symphony "From the New World". As in Dvořák's Ninth, Price opens the slow movement with solemn chorale sounds.

READ THE FULL BR Klassik ARTICLE