The second volume of
Documents of the Munich Years presents four American modernist works performed between 2002 and 2003 by
James Levine and the
Munich Philharmonic and compiled here in simulation of a live concert, complete with applause. If this had been a true concert, the programming of these challenging pieces together might have raised a few eyebrows, for Elliott Carter's "Variations for Orchestra," Charles Wuorinen's "Grand Bamboula," Roger Sessions' "Concerto for pianoforte and orchestra," and Robert di Domenica's "Symphony" are rather daunting fare for one sitting. Yet this CD will interest adventurous listeners and students of mid- to late-twentieth century symphonic works, and they will be grateful that the program has not been compromised with milder, more accessible works. This disc's high points may depend on preferences for one composer's music over others, but in terms of performance and sound quality, Sessions' "Concerto" is the most excitingly played and vividly reproduced, followed in intensity and color by Carter's "Variations." The substance and range of these large works sustain interest rather more than Wuorinen's short, abstruse effort for string orchestra or di Domenica's academically serial symphony. The sound quality is fairly consistent throughout and quite clean for live recordings.
