Naxos
M. Haydn: Symphonies, Vol. 1 / Gallois, Czech Chamber Philharmonic
$19.99
Details
- Composer
- HAYDN, MICHAEL
- Artist
- Gallois
- Format
- CD
- Label
- Naxos
- Released
- Jun 10, 2016
- Catalog #
- 8573497
- UPC
- 747313349777
About
This is the first of what one hopes will be a complete set of the Michael Haydn symphonies. If so, this release is a more than auspicious start, which will give much pleasure, especially in these idiomatic performances (on modern instruments).
For all that Michael lurks in the shadow cast by his brother, recent performances – and it is welcome to have so many more, especially on CD – have made it clear that he was no minor figure, but an accomplished composer in his own right. His contemporaries had little doubt of his stature. Although his relationship with Leopold Mozart was strained, he had a close friendship with Wolfgang, who appears to have been influenced by his music, and certainly promoted it in Vienna. A common feature between the two, heard to good effect in these symphonies, is a charming gift for writing effectively for the woodwinds.
Nor should these symphonies be considered less pleasurable than those by Josef. If there is a difference, it is not in musical facility nor in ingenious orchestration. If Michael does not quite plumb the same depths, there are similarities in construction and in the unusual effects. Listen for example, to the Rondeau of the C major work (track 8) as a splendid instance of confident, even exuberant, invention. There is an interesting study to be done on the extent to which Josef influenced his brother and vice-versa. They corresponded but rarely met during the forty years of Michael’s time in Salzburg, yet there are similarities in approach. I sometimes forget which brother I am hearing, though Michael was less of a pioneer. Also, he had a strong preference for major keys, as here (only Symphony No 20, not on this disc, is in a minor key), which slightly limited his emotional range. His gift is for the exciting.
This CD will give enormous pleasure, and perhaps encourage wider performance. Gallois has the music’s measure and the orchestra plays very well. It is interesting to make comparisons with Bohdan Warchal’s set of 20 symphonies on CPO (CPO 9995912), though the D major is not included there (but it is on a recording from the same label conducted by Johannes Goritzki – CPO 9991792) . The CPO set is a joy – so is this.
I look forward very much to the remainder of this series. It would be a wonderful if Naxos turned its attention to a complete set of the Masses. Josef thought Michael’s finer than his own, not without justice. From time to time a new recording appears (Hungaraton have shown commitment to the cause), but there is so much to explore.
– MusicWeb International (Michael Wilkinson)
Sinfonia in G major (Perger 16) (Symphony No. 25)
Sinfonia in D major (Perger 21) (Symphony No. 30)
Sinfonia in C major (Perger 19) (Symphony No. 28)
Sinfonia in A major (Perger 15) (Symphony No. 24)
For all that Michael lurks in the shadow cast by his brother, recent performances – and it is welcome to have so many more, especially on CD – have made it clear that he was no minor figure, but an accomplished composer in his own right. His contemporaries had little doubt of his stature. Although his relationship with Leopold Mozart was strained, he had a close friendship with Wolfgang, who appears to have been influenced by his music, and certainly promoted it in Vienna. A common feature between the two, heard to good effect in these symphonies, is a charming gift for writing effectively for the woodwinds.
Nor should these symphonies be considered less pleasurable than those by Josef. If there is a difference, it is not in musical facility nor in ingenious orchestration. If Michael does not quite plumb the same depths, there are similarities in construction and in the unusual effects. Listen for example, to the Rondeau of the C major work (track 8) as a splendid instance of confident, even exuberant, invention. There is an interesting study to be done on the extent to which Josef influenced his brother and vice-versa. They corresponded but rarely met during the forty years of Michael’s time in Salzburg, yet there are similarities in approach. I sometimes forget which brother I am hearing, though Michael was less of a pioneer. Also, he had a strong preference for major keys, as here (only Symphony No 20, not on this disc, is in a minor key), which slightly limited his emotional range. His gift is for the exciting.
This CD will give enormous pleasure, and perhaps encourage wider performance. Gallois has the music’s measure and the orchestra plays very well. It is interesting to make comparisons with Bohdan Warchal’s set of 20 symphonies on CPO (CPO 9995912), though the D major is not included there (but it is on a recording from the same label conducted by Johannes Goritzki – CPO 9991792) . The CPO set is a joy – so is this.
I look forward very much to the remainder of this series. It would be a wonderful if Naxos turned its attention to a complete set of the Masses. Josef thought Michael’s finer than his own, not without justice. From time to time a new recording appears (Hungaraton have shown commitment to the cause), but there is so much to explore.
– MusicWeb International (Michael Wilkinson)
Sinfonia in G major (Perger 16) (Symphony No. 25)
Sinfonia in D major (Perger 21) (Symphony No. 30)
Sinfonia in C major (Perger 19) (Symphony No. 28)
Sinfonia in A major (Perger 15) (Symphony No. 24)
Tracklist 13 tracks
-
1 I. Allegro con spirito 04:03
- Track
- 1
- Title
- I. Allegro con spirito
- Duration
- 04:03
- Composer
- Michael Haydn
- Performer
- Filip Dvořák
- Ensemble
- Czech Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra Pardubice
- Conductor
- Patrick Gallois
-
2 II. Andante sostenuto 03:54
- Track
- 2
- Title
- II. Andante sostenuto
- Duration
- 03:54
- Composer
- Michael Haydn
- Performer
- Filip Dvořák
- Ensemble
- Czech Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra Pardubice
- Conductor
- Patrick Gallois
-
3 III. Finale: Allegro molto 03:32
- Track
- 3
- Title
- III. Finale: Allegro molto
- Duration
- 03:32
- Composer
- Michael Haydn
- Performer
- Filip Dvořák
- Ensemble
- Czech Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra Pardubice
- Conductor
- Patrick Gallois
-
4 I. Adagio - Allegro spiritoso 06:07
- Track
- 4
- Title
- I. Adagio - Allegro spiritoso
- Duration
- 06:07
- Composer
- Michael Haydn
- Performer
- Filip Dvořák
- Ensemble
- Czech Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra Pardubice
- Conductor
- Patrick Gallois
-
5 II. Andante sostenuto 09:10
- Track
- 5
- Title
- II. Andante sostenuto
- Duration
- 09:10
- Composer
- Michael Haydn
- Performer
- Filip Dvořák
- Ensemble
- Czech Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra Pardubice
- Conductor
- Patrick Gallois
-
6 III. Finale: Vivace molto 05:40
- Track
- 6
- Title
- III. Finale: Vivace molto
- Duration
- 05:40
- Composer
- Michael Haydn
- Performer
- Filip Dvořák
- Ensemble
- Czech Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra Pardubice
- Conductor
- Patrick Gallois
-
7 I. Allegro spiritoso 06:47
- Track
- 7
- Title
- I. Allegro spiritoso
- Duration
- 06:47
- Composer
- Michael Haydn
- Performer
- Filip Dvořák
- Ensemble
- Czech Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra Pardubice
- Conductor
- Patrick Gallois
-
8 II. Rondeau: Un poco adagio 06:11
- Track
- 8
- Title
- II. Rondeau: Un poco adagio
- Duration
- 06:11
- Composer
- Michael Haydn
- Performer
- Filip Dvořák
- Ensemble
- Czech Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra Pardubice
- Conductor
- Patrick Gallois
-
9 III. Finale: Fugato - Vivace assai 06:24
- Track
- 9
- Title
- III. Finale: Fugato - Vivace assai
- Duration
- 06:24
- Composer
- Michael Haydn
- Performer
- Filip Dvořák
- Ensemble
- Czech Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra Pardubice
- Conductor
- Patrick Gallois
-
10 I. Allegro con brio 05:31
- Track
- 10
- Title
- I. Allegro con brio
- Duration
- 05:31
- Composer
- Michael Haydn
- Performer
- Filip Dvořák
- Ensemble
- Czech Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra Pardubice
- Conductor
- Patrick Gallois
-
11 II. Andante cantabile 05:30
- Track
- 11
- Title
- II. Andante cantabile
- Duration
- 05:30
- Composer
- Michael Haydn
- Performer
- Filip Dvořák
- Ensemble
- Czech Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra Pardubice
- Conductor
- Patrick Gallois
-
12 III. Menuetto 03:17
- Track
- 12
- Title
- III. Menuetto
- Duration
- 03:17
- Composer
- Michael Haydn
- Performer
- Filip Dvořák
- Ensemble
- Czech Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra Pardubice
- Conductor
- Patrick Gallois
-
13 IV. Presto 04:19
- Track
- 13
- Title
- IV. Presto
- Duration
- 04:19
- Composer
- Michael Haydn
- Performer
- Filip Dvořák
- Ensemble
- Czech Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra Pardubice
- Conductor
- Patrick Gallois