Gramophone: P-CE's DVD a "Vivid New Reading"

The upcoming April 2007 issue of Gramophone contains a review by Philip Kennicott of the DVD release by Naxos' of The Plow That Broke the Plains (1936) and The River, with a new recording of Virgil Thomson's musical score by Washington's own Post-Classical Ensemble.

Dallas Morning News: P-CE DVD "Smartly Played"

The Dallas Morning News has reviewed Naxos' re-issue of Pare Lorentz's 1930s classics The Plow That Broke the Plain and The River -- with soundtracks re-recorded by the Post-Classical Ensemble (P-CE).

It's a joy to hear Thomson's agreeably flinty music in up-to-date sonics, smartly played by the Washington, D.C.-based Post-Classical Ensemble, under conductor Angel Gil-Ordóñez. Thomson allows himself brief moments of gnarly mood music, but otherwise the score is a nonstop medley of marches, hymns, folk songs and what the composer himself called "darn-fool ditties," in harmonizations as spare as Lorentz's Dust Bowl scenes.

Click on the Dallas Morning Herald logo to read the full story:

NYT on P-CE: "Lively and Stylish"

Today's New York Times hailed the release of Naxos' DVD of The Plow That Broke the Plains (1936) and The River, which critic Anthony Tommasini called "historic, engrossing and artistically rich films" and want on to say of the Post-Classical Ensemble's contribution:

Naxos recruited the conductor Angel Gil-Ordóñez to record the scores freshly with the Post-Classical Ensemble.

The performances are lively and stylish.

Click on the New York Times logo below, please, to read the full article:

NPR Features P-CE DVD The Plow and The River

National Public Radio reports on Naxos' re-issue of Pare Lorentz's 1930s classics The Plow That Broke the Plain and The River -- with soundtracks re-recorded by the Post-Classical Ensemble (P-CE).

Elizabeth Blair's report includes an interview with the P-CE's musical director Angel Gil-Ordonez, who describes the majesty of Virgil Thomson's film scores.

Click on the NPR image to access the audio story as well as video clips:


Click on the DVD image to get your own copy today:

Washington Post features P-CE DVD Plow and River

The Washington Post reviews Naxos' re-release of The Plow That Broke the Plain (1936) and The River, with the Post-Classical Ensemble re-recording Virgil Thomson's original score.

Said The Post's Philip Kennicott :

The music draws on Thomson's study and appreciation of cowboy ditties, church hymns and other folk melodies, all of which have such deep and far-reaching associations that few Americans will fail to find something that is both familiar and unconsciously haunting.

Click on The Washington Post logo to read the full review (Sunday, January 28, 2007; Page N02):

Wesleyan celebrates DVD of P-CE's Music Director

The Wesleyan Connector celebrates the re-release of the 1930s classics The Plow That Broke the Plain and The River, whose scores are directed by the university's music director, Angel Gil-Ordonez, who is also musical director for the Post-Classical Ensemble (P-CE).

Click on The Wesleyan Connector logo to read the full article:

Washington Life: P-CE Plays The Plow and The River

Washington Life lists the Post-Classical Ensemble's performance of Virgil Thomson's scores for The Plow that Broke the Plain (1936) and The River (1937) at the AFI Silver Theatre in Silver Springs, MD.

Click on the Washington Life logo to see the listing: