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Henze's Adagio, Fugue and Maenads' Dance Draws Praise in Boston US Premiere

Jun. 01, 2006

Paul HindemithMaking its American premiere, Hans Werner Henze's Adagio, Fugue and Maenad's Dance left a strong impression in Boston. Richard Dyer, critic for the Boston Globe, noted, "the 'Adagio, Fugue, and Maenads' Dance' is a glittering, haunting half-hour of music which makes a powerful effect even if you don't know the daunting allegorical libretto by W. H. Auden and Chester Kallman about the mind versus the senses.

"Like Alban Berg in 'Wozzeck,' Henze...makes abstract musical forms like the fugue vividly dramatic and theatrical; this is narrative music. The mood is full of Mahlerian angst and regret, interrupted by savage Stravinskian rites. The orchestral writing is tremendous...The audience responded with considerable enthusiasm, repeatedly calling Dohnányi back to the stage."

To learn more about Hans Werner Henze and his music, please visit www.schott-music.com. To learn more about the Boston Symphony Orchestra, please visit www.bso.org.

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