Enchanted Forest

Conductor Edward Gardner and the Bergen Philharmonic here commence their series devoted to Leos Janaceks orchestral works. This opening salvo features three works from Janaceks late, great period: The Sinfonietta, one of the composers most successful and popular works; the Capriccio, with pianist Jean-Efflam Bavouzet taking on the left-hand solo part, and, restored to its original, striking orchestration by Sir Charles Mackerras, the suite of instrumental interludes from Janaceks 1923 opera The Cunning Little Vixen.

The Wooden Prince and The Miraculous Mandarin are – together with the earlier opera Bluebeard’s Castle – the only stage works by Béla Bartók. They stand apart from the more abstract and often more explicitly folk-related character of the music that we primarily associate with the composer. They are nevertheless major achievements that in different ways highlight Bartók’s imaginative use of the modern orchestra. Set in an enchanted forest, The Wooden Prince is based on a fairytale-like libretto featuring a prince and princess.

"Autumnal" is the seventh full-length album by the Spanish power metal band Dark Moor. Unlike their previous album Tarot, for example, there is no central subject matter, and that may not resonate with some fans. If you are okay with some randomness, and you are a fan of symphonic power metal such as Kamelot, Rhapsody, the latest Fairyland album, or even Nightwish to some degree, you will appreciate the atmosphere that Dark Moor has put into Autumnal.