[LAW Document 72 Hours] Romantic Classical
Passionate opera arias.
Fairytale-like ballet music.
Victory, passion, transience, unrequited love, tragedy, and so on.
Love in all its forms is a muse for artists.
I would like to introduce some of the greatest romantic classical music masterpieces born from the sincere feelings of composers (^^♪
■ Massenet: "Méditation" from the opera "Thaïs"
"Méditation" was originally an intermezzo from Massenet's opera "Thaïs".
It is an important scene where the heroine, Thaïs, decides to give up being a courtesan and accepts the path of faith.
However, because this music is so sweet and dramatic, it has come to be appreciated as a concert piece in its own right.
The silky violin solo emerges with a strong presence over the gentle orchestral accompaniment.
The middle section is more passionate, isn't it?
It shows a darker, more desperate kind of love that even feels like agony, hinting at the misfortune that will befall the lovers, Thaïs and the monk Athanaël, in the final act of the opera.
Massenet: Méditation from Thaïs (Flute and Harp version)
■ Rachmaninoff: Symphony No. 2, 3rd Movement
An incredibly rich and gentle movement within a dramatic and powerful symphony.
In this movement, Rachmaninoff shows passion, albeit in a restrained manner.
The lyrical, expansive melody wraps around the listener like a warm dream, and a gentle sense of vitality gives the music a sense of eternal, blissful time.
Why not close your eyes and savor the melting sensation of this piece, one of the greatest works in Romantic classical music?
Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 2, 1st Movement
Rachmaninoff: Symphony No. 2, 2nd Movement
Rachmaninoff: Symphony No. 2, 4th Movement
■ Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 3, 2nd Movement, Largo
Beethoven's works, synonymous with Romanticism, are often beautiful and deeply moving, making many of them perfect for a Valentine's Day playlist.
For this selection, I have chosen the 'Largo' from his Piano Concerto No. 3.
The gentle resonance of the piano part, swaying between sweetness and nostalgia, makes this piece stand out.
It is undoubtedly a romance from the good old days.
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 3, 1st Movement
■ Puccini: 'O mio babbino caro' from the opera 'Gianni Schicchi'
I believe there is nothing that speaks of romance quite like the operas of the Italian master Puccini.
Naturally, Puccini wrote countless beautiful and emotional pieces for lovers, but there is no song as poignant as 'O mio babbino caro'.
In this deeply moving aria, one of the greatest masterpieces of Romantic classical music, a soprano troubled by love asks her father for help so she can marry the man she loves.
Her anguish is real, and the lustrous tone of the strings, the soprano singing acrobatic melodic lines, and the bittersweet harmonies might just bring tears to your eyes.
Puccini: 'O mio babbino caro' from the opera 'Gianni Schicchi'
■ Wagner: 'Liebestod' from the music drama 'Tristan und Isolde'
Wagner's music, which embodies German Romanticism, is wrapped in a flame of passion with a power as strong as steroids.
His music drama 'Tristan und Isolde' is one of the greatest masterpieces of Romantic music, but it is intense and indulgent, with a theme of fateful and impossible love.
These themes are brilliantly sublimated into the structure of the music, where unresolved harmonic progressions, the seamless melody known as 'infinite melody,' and the unleashed power of the orchestra create an endless longing and insatiable desire.
The finale of the four-hour opera, 'Liebestod,' is a supreme piece of music, and you should feel emotions surging like waves.
Wagner: Music Drama 'Tristan und Isolde' Liebestod (Orchestral Version)
Wagner: Music Drama 'Tristan und Isolde' Act 3, Isolde's Liebestod (Arranged for Violin and Piano by F. Say)
Debussy: The Girl with the Flaxen Hair
From among Debussy's vast array of wonderful works, I would like to introduce a masterpiece of piano solo music, 'The Girl with the Flaxen Hair'.
The beauty of this piece lies in its simple elegance.
The melody moves up and down lightly and delicately.
That happy, rolling melody emerges from the chordal accompaniment and is wrapped in softly glowing harmonies.
Don't you think the sense of weightlessness and the feeling of liberation of the spirit that Debussy achieved in this piece are a little similar to how love feels?
Debussy: Preludes, Book 1 - VIII. The Girl with the Flaxen Hair
Mahler: Symphony No. 5, 4th Movement Adagietto
This astonishing symphony is widely known along with the love story between Mahler and Alma, who would become his future wife.
In fact, this 4th movement is often said to be a love letter from Mahler to Alma.
The luxurious, soft, and lustrous 'Adagietto' is almost un-Mahler-like in that it is a very quiet expression, without any sparkling production, played only by the highly sentimental sound of string instruments and a gently played harp.
From the first few bars, it should be clear to the listener that this movement is different from Mahler's other works.
Mahler: Symphony No. 5, 1st Movement
Mahler: Symphony No. 5, 2nd Movement
Mahler: Symphony No. 5, 3rd Movement
Mahler: Symphony No. 5, 5th Movement
■ Pärt: Spiegel im Spiegel
It is a delicate, hypnotic, and poignant piece of music.
Written by Arvo Pärt using a minimalist approach, this famous piece strips away layers, leaving behind raw, fleeting emotions.
The solo violin (played by cello in some recordings) barely touches the bow to the strings, like an unsteady breath, while the repeating piano figures create a sense of stillness and complete satisfaction.
You don't even realize you've been holding your breath until the very last note.
Pärt: Spiegel im Spiegel
■ Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 2, 2nd Movement Adagio Sostenuto
Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 is one of the greatest works in the piano repertoire and one of the masterpieces of Romantic classical music.
There is a reason why the deep, emotional, and passionate Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 is chosen by the film industry, born romantics, and pianists who genuinely want to move people.
I think this piano concerto is familiar to many people because it was effectively used in David Lean's 1945 British film 'Brief Encounter,' starring Celia Johnson and Trevor Howard.
I believe that is why it is so well-loved by many.
Lean likely used Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 to convey the true feelings of the protagonists more clearly.
Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 18, 1st Movement
Rachmaninoff's own performance: Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 18, 2nd Movement (1929 recording)
Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18, 3rd Movement
■ Tchaikovsky: From the ballet "The Nutcracker" <Pas de deux of the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Prince>
The music from Tchaikovsky's classical ballet "The Nutcracker" can be called a microcosm of musical romance.
"The Nutcracker" is the ultimate fairy tale of love, and the incredibly beautiful <Pas de deux> was danced by the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Prince, wasn't it?
The famous theme, reminiscent of a cascade (a series of small waterfalls), is first presented by the cello, accompanied by magical harp arpeggios, and is slowly built up.
It pulls at the listener's heartstrings with great force, doesn't it?
Tchaikovsky: Ballet music "The Nutcracker", Adagio from the Grand Pas de deux of the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Prince (Act II)
Tchaikovsky: Ballet music "The Nutcracker", Coda from the Grand Pas de deux of the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Prince (Act II)
Tchaikovsky: Ballet music "The Nutcracker", Op. 71 - III. Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy