Repertoire: Miniature Masterpieces (No. 30) Skalkottas 

Thanks for bringing attention to a long-neglected Greek composer who needs to be re-introduced and performed in the concert halls and classical stations. While much has been said about his atonal works, his tonal works seem to be unknown. While I commend BIS and maestro Christodoulou for this magnificent CD, I must also emphasize the Byron Fidetzis version, which truly reinvigorates every dance with the energy and rhythm each deserves. I almost feel that the Christodoulou performance slows its down a bit - even in the Epirotikos. Please get a copy of the Fidetzis with The Urals State Philharmonic Orchestra and give it a go. At the same time, kudos to you for doing what you do.

Mikis Theodorakis- the other Greek composer mentioned- is a very interesting case. He's written songs as good and noble as Schubert's: Μαρίνα (Marina), Άρνηση (Αrnisi-Sto perigiali) and Δρόμοι Παλιοί(Dromoi Palioi), and as evocative and atmospheric as Mahler's: Άσμα ασμάτων (Asma Asmaton), Ξημερώνει (Ximeroni), Ανοίγω το στόμα (Anoigo to Stoma) and Κράτησα την ζωή μου (Kratisa tin zoi mou). He wrote a 'popular oratorio' called Axion Esti, to the evocative poetry by Odysseas Elytis (1979 Nobel prize), that's definitely worth a listen. Although- to my ears at least- dozens of his best songs/themes, have the weight and appeal one encounters in 19th century classical music, it was his lifelong goal, to make the great poetry he set to music, known to the widest possible audience through his songs. With that in view, the orchestration/accompaniment he chose for his songs was usually the bouzouki. Unfortunately, because the themes are couched in that musical idiom, crossing national barriers has occurred less often than the songs deserve. Glad to see Skalkotas appearing in your talks !

I appreciate hearing this. I am making digital recordings of my LP collection and just heard, If I remember correctly, the Little Suite for strings conducted by Lukas Foss (on Vox) and was blown away after not hearing it for 40 years and realizing how much I like it. I hoped you talked about him, and here, you did! How much great music there is to discover still!

Once more, you present one of the composers I'm interested in so much. Besides, my favorite dance is the "Kleftikos". But, oh my goodness, the "Ulysses"... It's such a shame that the score is nearly unreadable. For me, it's one o the few 12-tone-pieces really worth listen to. It has just the sort of magic and greatness I miss so often in atonal music. And now, it's time for a holiday-evening in Greece by listening to some of the dances again!

Great to see one.of my favourite modern composers done here. Nice that BIS has allowed you to quote. I hope you’ll now do more BIS and their enterprising modern Scandinavian composers as well as Schnittke’s works etc. Wonderful. Bravo. I LOVE Skalkottas!!!Thank you David❤️❤️❤️

This is absolutely gorgeous. Thanks for the recommendation. I'm glad most of your recommendations are on spotify; otherwise I might be out a grand or two.

Thank you for pointing this glorious music out! My only Skalkottas until now has been some hard-core serialist stuff, so I had pretty much written him off. But this one is a keeper.

Ι ll make only a small correction. This is not the only existing cd concluding the 36 dances. There is another one by B. Fidetzis conducting the Ural's (!) orchestra. I am also very happy to listen to four of them with Mitropoulos conducting the NY PO from a 1956 monumental recording. Many thanks Mr. Hurwitz.

Great choice, Dave! And, goodness, I was just SURE you'll pick that Ipiroticos - it's become my favorite from the whole set! I find a lot of Enescu in the music (think of the inevitable Rhapsody #1, for instance). Not surprising, of course, given the geographic and ethno-cultural proximity. One final remark: most of the dance names are also geographical & ethnocultural: Ipiroticos, for instance, simply means: from Epiros.

Nice! It reminded me a bit of Enescu’s 1st Romanian Rhapsody.

Neat piece.

Hi David, first of all thank you so much for all of the gems in this series, as well as your other videos; as one of the young newbies a little late to the party, your recent videos have helped me overcome my shyness in voicing my appreciation for your work, and all of the great music I never knew about! I'm not sure if you're still taking suggestions (and there are plenty of others already) to continue this series, but I'd like to just put two cents in for one composer whose work is very dear to me: Finzi. I know songs have been difficult to get samples for, but three of my favourites - "Budmouth Dears" from 'A Young Man's Exhortation', "Rollicum-Rorum" from 'Earth and Air and Rain', and "Who is Silvia?" from 'Let us Garlands Bring' - are all below two minutes in their recordings as part of the Naxos English Song Series (so hopefully the only issue would be in availability ...? Apologies, I'm still not too au fait with how that all works)! Failing this, there is of course the "Carol" from his 'Five Bagatelles', which I seem to recall you having in the Ashmore arrangement when you discussed clarinet concerti (beautifully restrained, like so much of Finzi). In any case, thanks again for giving us all this outlet; your knowledge and love of music, and the community you have created here, have done wonders for people like me who can't experience such things in person.

I've enjoyed this series. Here's an idea for another series--virtually conductor proof masterpieces. As you've mentioned before, there are pieces that virtually play themselves and are almost (there are always exceptions) immune from bad performances caused by the conductor. These would tend to be "chestnuts" or "basic repertoire" works because they're likely to have had enough recordings to prove their immunity from poor conducting. The novice or even more experienced classical music collector could choose almost any of the recordings of these pieces and be assured of getting at least a good performance. How's this sound to you?