San Francisco Symphony, Michael Tilson Thomas – American Mavericks (2012)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 01:13:24 minutes | 1,34 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © SFS Media

The latest album from Michael Tilson Thomas and the GRAMMY Award-winning San Francisco Symphony features breathtaking live recordings from the SFS’ widely acclaimed American Mavericks festival. American Mavericks includes scintillating performances of four works by three influential twentieth century masters: Henry Cowell’s Synchrony and his Piano Concerto, Lou Harrison’s Concerto for Organ with Percussion Orchestra and Edgard Varese’s Ameriques and the orchestral siren that has influenced generations of composers.

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Michael Tilson Thomas & San Francisco Symphony – Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6, “Pathétique” (2018)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192 kHz | Time – 48:52 minutes | 1,83 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © SFS Media

Recorded at a public concert – as is the case for almost all the albums by the San Francisco Orchestra – this version of Tchaikovsky’s Sixth is Michael Tilson’s contribution to the substantial discography of this phenomenal work. Recall that this sombre symphony was first performed in Saint Petersburg in October 1893, conducted by the director himself, with a decent reception, although the audience was most likely left “wanting more”, as the final notes of the staggering final movement faded into a very un-heroic pianissimo. Recall also that only nine days later, Tchaikovsky left behind this vale of years – there are conflicting theories regarding his death, whether it was a result of cholera, suicide, or something else entirely – and the work was played again a few days later at a memorial service, with a few corrections that the composer had made after the first performance; and henceforth it would be this version, that the writer would never hear during his lifetime, which would be played at concerts.

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