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Rigel: Symphonies / Concerto Cologne
Berlin Classics

Rigel: Symphonies / Concerto Cologne

$20.99

Details

Composer
RIGEL, H.
Artist
Concerto Köln
Format
CD
Label
Berlin Classics
Released
Feb 20, 2009
Catalog #
BC0016432
UPC
782124164324

About

Although no stranger to repose the abiding impression left by this music is of flames licking at its heels. It looks back to late Mozart (40, 41) and forward to the wondrously gifted Méhul and beyond to Beethoven's Eroica and even Brahms and Berwald.

Rigel was born in Wertheim and studied in Germany with Jommelli and Richter. In 1767 he moved to Paris which he made his home. He was a well-loved figure in the French capital with symphonies, oratorios and concertos flowing in abundance. The French Revolution drew a number of politically suitable works from him. He was a leading teacher at the newly established Paris Conservatoire. The life story is nicely outlined by Benoît Dratwicki in the integral liner-note.

Rigel’s twenty-plus symphonies vied in Paris with those of Gossec and Leduc. The symphonies represented here range in duration from 10:03 to 15:33. The Fourth is full of enthralling detail. Rigel adopts the orchestral style familiar to us from early Beethoven and Mozart but there are many original touches. This is impetuous music - a child of the buffeting storm with gruff horns and a cauldron of classical conflict. The Seventh starts imperially emphatic. It is at times reminiscent of Beethoven's Seventh and the Great Ludwig’s bull-in-a-classical-china-shop manner. Even so this elbows-out approach is tempered by the kindly harpsichord continuo so noticeably absent from the Fourth. The Eighth is full of charming touches including seductive wind solos and surprisingly ear-tickling dynamic contrasts. Its central slow movement shows the mulch from which Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique grew. Number 14 has a startlingly inventive apple-pure pizzicato middle movement and a really Mozartean sense of peaceful repose. The gallant finale races along with chasseur horns. The Tenth Symphony combines dignity and exuberance which bridges the exhilaration of the Mozart K364 Sinfonia Concertante, the London Symphonies of Haydn and, in the finale, the Rossini overtures.

These outstanding performances are resonantly recorded, delightful in their range of physical impact and rippling with life. I hope there will be Rigel sequels.

- Rob Barnett, MusicWeb International

Tracklist 15 tracks

  1. 1 I. Allegro assai 07:09
    Track
    1
    Title
    I. Allegro assai
    Duration
    07:09
    Composer
    Henri-Joseph Rigel
    Ensemble
    Concerto Köln
  2. 2 II. Largo non troppo 03:32
    Track
    2
    Title
    II. Largo non troppo
    Duration
    03:32
    Composer
    Henri-Joseph Rigel
    Ensemble
    Concerto Köln
  3. 3 III. Allegro spiritoso 04:52
    Track
    3
    Title
    III. Allegro spiritoso
    Duration
    04:52
    Composer
    Henri-Joseph Rigel
    Ensemble
    Concerto Köln
  4. 4 I. Allegro 04:12
    Track
    4
    Title
    I. Allegro
    Duration
    04:12
    Composer
    Henri-Joseph Rigel
    Ensemble
    Concerto Köln
  5. 5 II. Andante grazioso con espressione 04:55
    Track
    5
    Title
    II. Andante grazioso con espressione
    Duration
    04:55
    Composer
    Henri-Joseph Rigel
    Ensemble
    Concerto Köln
  6. 6 III. Presto 05:20
    Track
    6
    Title
    III. Presto
    Duration
    05:20
    Composer
    Henri-Joseph Rigel
    Ensemble
    Concerto Köln
  7. 7 I. Allegro 05:57
    Track
    7
    Title
    I. Allegro
    Duration
    05:57
    Composer
    Henri-Joseph Rigel
    Ensemble
    Concerto Köln
  8. 8 II. Pastorale: Andante quasi adagio 03:16
    Track
    8
    Title
    II. Pastorale: Andante quasi adagio
    Duration
    03:16
    Composer
    Henri-Joseph Rigel
    Ensemble
    Concerto Köln
  9. 9 III. Presto 04:33
    Track
    9
    Title
    III. Presto
    Duration
    04:33
    Composer
    Henri-Joseph Rigel
    Ensemble
    Concerto Köln
  10. 10 I. Allegro assai 03:54
    Track
    10
    Title
    I. Allegro assai
    Duration
    03:54
    Composer
    Henri-Joseph Rigel
    Ensemble
    Concerto Köln
  11. 11 II. Andante moderato 04:14
    Track
    11
    Title
    II. Andante moderato
    Duration
    04:14
    Composer
    Henri-Joseph Rigel
    Ensemble
    Concerto Köln
  12. 12 III. Allegro 01:55
    Track
    12
    Title
    III. Allegro
    Duration
    01:55
    Composer
    Henri-Joseph Rigel
    Ensemble
    Concerto Köln
  13. 13 I. Allegro maestoso 06:48
    Track
    13
    Title
    I. Allegro maestoso
    Duration
    06:48
    Composer
    Henri-Joseph Rigel
    Ensemble
    Concerto Köln
  14. 14 II. Adagio 02:57
    Track
    14
    Title
    II. Adagio
    Duration
    02:57
    Composer
    Henri-Joseph Rigel
    Ensemble
    Concerto Köln
  15. 15 III. Presto 05:33
    Track
    15
    Title
    III. Presto
    Duration
    05:33
    Composer
    Henri-Joseph Rigel
    Ensemble
    Concerto Köln