Salomon Jadassohn: Symphonies 1-4

$36.99
Label
CPO
Release Date
April 14, 2015
Format
Added to Cart! View cart or continue shopping.


    Featuring ⌄
    • COMPOSER
      JADASSOHN, SALOMON
    • ORCHESTRA / ENSEMBLE
      Brandenburg State Orchestra Frankfurt
    • PERFORMER
      Griffiths
    Product Details ⌄
    • RELEASE DATE
      April 14, 2015
    • UPC
      761203760725
    • CATALOG NUMBER
      777607-2
    • LABEL
      CPO
    • NUMBER OF DISCS
      2
    • GENRE
      Orchestral & Symphonic
    Works ⌄

    1. I. Allegro con brio

      Composer: Salomon Jadassohn

      Ensemble: Brandenburgisches Staatsorchester Frankfurt

      Conductor: Howard Griffiths

    2. II. Scherzo

      Composer: Salomon Jadassohn

      Ensemble: Brandenburgisches Staatsorchester Frankfurt

      Conductor: Howard Griffiths

    3. III. Largo e mesto

      Composer: Salomon Jadassohn

      Ensemble: Brandenburgisches Staatsorchester Frankfurt

      Conductor: Howard Griffiths

    4. IV. Finale: Allegro molto e vivace

      Composer: Salomon Jadassohn

      Ensemble: Brandenburgisches Staatsorchester Frankfurt

      Conductor: Howard Griffiths

    5. Cavatine, Op. 69

      Composer: Salomon Jadassohn

      Ensemble: Brandenburgisches Staatsorchester Frankfurt

      Performer: Klaudyna Schulze-Broniewska

      Conductor: Howard Griffiths

    6. I. Allegro moderato vivace e con brio

      Composer: Salomon Jadassohn

      Ensemble: Brandenburgisches Staatsorchester Frankfurt

      Conductor: Howard Griffiths

    7. II. Andante non troppo lento

      Composer: Salomon Jadassohn

      Ensemble: Brandenburgisches Staatsorchester Frankfurt

      Conductor: Howard Griffiths

    8. III. Molto vivace allegro

      Composer: Salomon Jadassohn

      Ensemble: Brandenburgisches Staatsorchester Frankfurt

      Conductor: Howard Griffiths

    9. IV. Allegro grazioso

      Composer: Salomon Jadassohn

      Ensemble: Brandenburgisches Staatsorchester Frankfurt

      Conductor: Howard Griffiths

    10. I. Allegro appassionato

      Composer: Salomon Jadassohn

      Ensemble: Brandenburgisches Staatsorchester Frankfurt

      Conductor: Howard Griffiths

    11. II. Andante un poco tenuto

      Composer: Salomon Jadassohn

      Ensemble: Brandenburgisches Staatsorchester Frankfurt

      Conductor: Howard Griffiths

    12. III. Menuetto: Allegro un poco vivo

      Composer: Salomon Jadassohn

      Ensemble: Brandenburgisches Staatsorchester Frankfurt

      Conductor: Howard Griffiths

    13. IV. Finale: Allegro fiero, non troppo vivace

      Composer: Salomon Jadassohn

      Ensemble: Brandenburgisches Staatsorchester Frankfurt

      Conductor: Howard Griffiths

    14. Cavatine, Op. 120

      Composer: Salomon Jadassohn

      Ensemble: Brandenburgisches Staatsorchester Frankfurt

      Performer: Thomas Georgi

      Conductor: Howard Griffiths

    15. I. Allegro patetico

      Composer: Salomon Jadassohn

      Ensemble: Brandenburgisches Staatsorchester Frankfurt

      Conductor: Howard Griffiths

    16. II. Scherzo: Vivo

      Composer: Salomon Jadassohn

      Ensemble: Brandenburgisches Staatsorchester Frankfurt

      Conductor: Howard Griffiths

    17. III. Adagio affetuoso

      Composer: Salomon Jadassohn

      Ensemble: Brandenburgisches Staatsorchester Frankfurt

      Conductor: Howard Griffiths

    18. IV. Finale: Allegro decido

      Composer: Salomon Jadassohn

      Ensemble: Brandenburgisches Staatsorchester Frankfurt

      Conductor: Howard Griffiths


Yes, this music is ridiculously conservative, as we might expect from a founder of the post-Mendelssohnian Leipzig school, but with a difference. Unlike so many of his colleagues Jadassohn, who composed these four symphonies between 1860 and 1888, keeps all of their elements in scale. They are brief (about thirty minutes maximum), immaculately scored, tuneful, and not afraid to be light without ever turning frivolous. Indeed, in their day these works were criticized for their lack of profundity. Today, we can see this as one of their greatest virtues.

The First Symphony looks back less to Mendelssohn than to Schumann, with better scoring. Consider the scherzo, and try to guess the composer. After that, the range expands a bit. Jadassohn had a genuine lyric gift, evident in the two Cavatinas for violin and cello, respectively, and also at such moments as the slow movement of the Third Symphony. With the Fourth Symphony, in C minor, Jadassohn does strike a more serious note, but once again at no point does it ever seem that he’s stretching his material farther than it wants to go. He knows how to keep his music moving, and he’s not ashamed of the fact that he’s not Beethoven. That’s saying a lot.

The performances by the Brandenburg State Orchestra under Howard Griffiths are quite good, with characterful contributions from the woodwinds and nice, clean ensemble generally. In the two Cavatinas, Thomas Georgi (cello) and Klaudyna Schulze-Broniewska (violin) play sensitively and don’t overload their predominantly gentle solo lines. The sonics are also naturally balanced and warm. Jadassohn’s symphonies may not be “important,” but they are wisely written, attractive pieces and for that reason well worth getting to know.

-- David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday.com