HANS WERNER HENZE (1926-2012): Symphony No. 1 for Chamber Orchestra, Symphony No. 6 for 2 Orchestras.

Description: The 1947 first symphony, which the composer rewrote extensively in later years, is a tautly argued (in its final version) three movement work based on dodecaphonic thematic material, freely treated. The central nocturne is rather romantically chromatic; the first movement has a shadowy elusive quality, while the variation finale is energetic and rhythmically fluid, with what sound like rather explicit references to Le sacre. The Sixth (1969) marked a radical departure for Henze; the work is aggressive and experimental, with 'non-classical' instruments, avant garde techniques (clusters, quarter-tones), and in acknowledgement of his radical political views at the time - the piece was written for, and premiered in, Cuba - sudden, surprising intrusions of revolutionary song themes and popular rhythms into