Franz Xaver Richter: Grandes Symphonies, Set 2 No 7-12 / Aapo Hakkinen, Helsinki Baroque Orchestra

$13.99
Label
Naxos
Release Date
June 30, 2009
Format
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    Featuring ⌄
    • COMPOSER
      RICHTER, FRANZ XAVER
    • ORCHESTRA / ENSEMBLE
      Helsinki Baroque Orchestra
    • PERFORMER
      Haikinen
    Product Details ⌄
    • RELEASE DATE
      June 30, 2009
    • UPC
      747313059775
    • CATALOG NUMBER
      8570597
    • LABEL
      Naxos
    • NUMBER OF DISCS
      1
    • GENRE
      Orchestral & Symphonic
    Works ⌄

    1. I. Allegro

      Composer: Franz Xaver Richter

      Ensemble: Helsinki Baroque Orchestra

      Conductor: Aapo Häkkinen

    2. II. Andante

      Composer: Franz Xaver Richter

      Ensemble: Helsinki Baroque Orchestra

      Conductor: Aapo Häkkinen

    3. III. Allegro

      Composer: Franz Xaver Richter

      Ensemble: Helsinki Baroque Orchestra

      Conductor: Aapo Häkkinen

    4. I. Allegro

      Composer: Franz Xaver Richter

      Ensemble: Helsinki Baroque Orchestra

      Conductor: Aapo Häkkinen

    5. II. Largo

      Composer: Franz Xaver Richter

      Ensemble: Helsinki Baroque Orchestra

      Conductor: Aapo Häkkinen

    6. III. Presto

      Composer: Franz Xaver Richter

      Ensemble: Helsinki Baroque Orchestra

      Conductor: Aapo Häkkinen

    7. I. Allegro

      Composer: Franz Xaver Richter

      Ensemble: Helsinki Baroque Orchestra

      Conductor: Aapo Häkkinen

    8. II. Andante

      Composer: Franz Xaver Richter

      Ensemble: Helsinki Baroque Orchestra

      Conductor: Aapo Häkkinen

    9. III. Allegro

      Composer: Franz Xaver Richter

      Ensemble: Helsinki Baroque Orchestra

      Conductor: Aapo Häkkinen

    10. I. Adagio

      Composer: Franz Xaver Richter

      Ensemble: Helsinki Baroque Orchestra

      Conductor: Aapo Häkkinen

    11. II. Fuga non troppo presto

      Composer: Franz Xaver Richter

      Ensemble: Helsinki Baroque Orchestra

      Conductor: Aapo Häkkinen

    12. III. Andante

      Composer: Franz Xaver Richter

      Ensemble: Helsinki Baroque Orchestra

      Conductor: Aapo Häkkinen

    13. IV. Tempo di Minuetto

      Composer: Franz Xaver Richter

      Ensemble: Helsinki Baroque Orchestra

      Conductor: Aapo Häkkinen

    14. I. Spiritoso

      Composer: Franz Xaver Richter

      Ensemble: Helsinki Baroque Orchestra

      Conductor: Aapo Häkkinen

    15. II. Andante

      Composer: Franz Xaver Richter

      Ensemble: Helsinki Baroque Orchestra

      Conductor: Aapo Häkkinen

    16. III. Presto

      Composer: Franz Xaver Richter

      Ensemble: Helsinki Baroque Orchestra

      Conductor: Aapo Häkkinen

    17. I. Andante -

      Composer: Franz Xaver Richter

      Ensemble: Helsinki Baroque Orchestra

      Conductor: Aapo Häkkinen

    18. I. Allegro non molto

      Composer: Franz Xaver Richter

      Ensemble: Helsinki Baroque Orchestra

      Conductor: Aapo Häkkinen

    19. II. Andante

      Composer: Franz Xaver Richter

      Ensemble: Helsinki Baroque Orchestra

      Conductor: Aapo Häkkinen

    20. III. Tempo di Minuetto

      Composer: Franz Xaver Richter

      Ensemble: Helsinki Baroque Orchestra

      Conductor: Aapo Häkkinen


Franz Xaver Richter actually wrote these symphonies before joining the celebrated group of composers and performers in the Mannheim court orchestra, but they are no less interesting for that. Two of these works (Nos. 10 and 12) follow the "church sonata" format in opening with a slow movement (out of four in total; all of the other symphonies have three). The quick second movement of No. 10 is a fugue, and a very good one, always an indication of the "learned" style. But even the theoretically lighter works are full of melodic and harmonic interest. The minor-key slow movements of Nos. 7 and 8, for example, really are gripping, and in the quick movements Richter strikingly anticipates Classical procedures by writing development sections that really do develop, exhibiting great tonal tension with no loss of coherence.

In short, these works are well worth getting to know, and happily the Helsinki Baroque Orchestra under Aapo Häkkinen plays them stylishly and with plenty of expressive force. The harpsichord continuo sounds a touch dry, but it happily doesn't overwhelm the larger string ensemble as so often happens in music of this period, turning the works into de facto keyboard concertos. Volume 1 in this set of 12 "Grandes Symphonies" already has been released, and it's equally fine, so if you're interested in the history of the classical symphony, and in that fascinating period in which the late Baroque mingled with the nascent style of Gluck (in "reform" mode), Haydn, and Mozart, then you will certainly want to hear this expressively pungent and attractive music.

--David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday.com