London Philharmonic Orchestra & Peter Boyer - Boyer: Symphony No. 1 (2014) [Official Digital Download 24/96]

Peter Boyer is one of the most frequently performed American orchestral composers of his generation, widely admired not least for his GRAMMY®-nominated 'Ellis Island: The Dream of America' (Naxos 8.559246). The composer writes, "The five works included on this recording represent a cross-section of my orchestral music. 'Three Olympians' reflects my interest in mythology and history. Often I have received invitations to compose music for celebratory concerts, and three of the works included here – 'Silver Fanfare,' 'Festivities' and 'Celebration Overture' – were created for such occasions." Symphony No. 1 is a lyrical and rhythmically charged work, dedicated to the memory of Leonard Bernstein. "My brother Alexander, sister Nina, and I are very touched that Peter Boyer has dedicated his Symphony No. 1 to our father. I know how deeply Peter relates to the music of Leonard Bernstein, as well as to the humanitarian spirit that infuses so many Bernstein compositions. It's gratifying indeed to see our father's influence touching succeeding generations, and continuing to make an impact on our world. We salute Peter, and wish his symphony well!" – Jamie Bernstein

"Peter Boyer's love affair with American orchestras continues with his second Naxos recording, dedicated to celebratory works composed for five American orchestras over a period of 15 years. Boyer, who claims more than 300 performances by more than 100 orchestras, writes in a fluent, powerful style that fuses conservative American currents with Hollywood-ish size and populist sentiment… 'Three Olympians'… demonstrates the composer's orchestration gifts in a tour de force that evokes Apollo, Aphrodite, and, in a brilliant finale, Ares. [On Symphony No. 1:] "…the three-movement work is dominated by an 11-minute long third movement, an absorbing, eventful Adagio with beautiful, written-out solo riffs… eloquent, spaciously recorded performances…"
–Gramophone Magazine

"Classical music listeners apprehensive about 'new music' have nothing to fear, and everything to love, about Peter Boyer. The American composer writes music in a neo-romantic style with an unabashedly direct and popular appeal… His Symphony No. 1, a tribute to his muse Leonard Bernstein, is a stirring work, filled with soaring, 'American sounding' themes and propulsive rhythms… a recording that's sure to win him many new fans."
–WRTI Philadelphia

"'Three Olympians'… must rank among Boyer's finest pieces. It has great tunes and exploits the timbres of the string orchestra in a very fetching and vivid way… 'Silver Fanfare', 'Festivities' and 'Celebration Overture' are all short, splashy, tuneful occasional works, and probably great fun to play. The London Philharmonic under the composer’s confident direction does a fine job with them… Like all of the music on this disc, the symphony is tuneful, expertly crafted, colorfully scored… Boyer knows what he wants, and how to do it. This very well engineered disc is lots of fun, and a really good listen." (9/9 Artistic Quality/Sound Quality)
–ClassicsToday.com

TRACKLIST
1. Silver Fanfare (2004) For Orchestra (04:11)
2. Festivities (2011) For Orchestra (05:55)
3. I. Apollo (04:59)
4. II. Aphrodite (05:37)
5. III. Ares (03:42)
6. Celebration Overture (1997, Rev. 2001) For Orchestra (06:40)
7. I. Prelude (06:54)
8. II. Scherzo/Dance (06:08)
9. III. Adagio (11:09)