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CPO

Salomon Jadassohn: Symphonies 1-4

$36.99

Details

Composer
JADASSOHN, SALOMON
Artist
Griffiths
Format
CD
Discs
2
Label
CPO
Released
Apr 14, 2015
Catalog #
777607-2
UPC
761203760725

About

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

Tracklist 18 tracks

  1. Disc 1
  2. 1 I. Allegro con brio 05:14
    Track
    1
    Title
    I. Allegro con brio
    Duration
    05:14
    Composer
    Salomon Jadassohn
    Ensemble
    Brandenburgisches Staatsorchester Frankfurt
    Conductor
    Howard Griffiths
  3. 2 II. Scherzo 04:32
    Track
    2
    Title
    II. Scherzo
    Duration
    04:32
    Composer
    Salomon Jadassohn
    Ensemble
    Brandenburgisches Staatsorchester Frankfurt
    Conductor
    Howard Griffiths
  4. 3 III. Largo e mesto 06:06
    Track
    3
    Title
    III. Largo e mesto
    Duration
    06:06
    Composer
    Salomon Jadassohn
    Ensemble
    Brandenburgisches Staatsorchester Frankfurt
    Conductor
    Howard Griffiths
  5. 4 IV. Finale: Allegro molto e vivace 04:59
    Track
    4
    Title
    IV. Finale: Allegro molto e vivace
    Duration
    04:59
    Composer
    Salomon Jadassohn
    Ensemble
    Brandenburgisches Staatsorchester Frankfurt
    Conductor
    Howard Griffiths
  6. 5 Cavatine, Op. 69 09:10
    Track
    5
    Title
    Cavatine, Op. 69
    Duration
    09:10
    Composer
    Salomon Jadassohn
    Performer
    Klaudyna Schulze-Broniewska
    Ensemble
    Brandenburgisches Staatsorchester Frankfurt
    Conductor
    Howard Griffiths
  7. 6 I. Allegro moderato vivace e con brio 07:18
    Track
    6
    Title
    I. Allegro moderato vivace e con brio
    Duration
    07:18
    Composer
    Salomon Jadassohn
    Ensemble
    Brandenburgisches Staatsorchester Frankfurt
    Conductor
    Howard Griffiths
  8. 7 II. Andante non troppo lento 08:58
    Track
    7
    Title
    II. Andante non troppo lento
    Duration
    08:58
    Composer
    Salomon Jadassohn
    Ensemble
    Brandenburgisches Staatsorchester Frankfurt
    Conductor
    Howard Griffiths
  9. 8 III. Molto vivace allegro 05:18
    Track
    8
    Title
    III. Molto vivace allegro
    Duration
    05:18
    Composer
    Salomon Jadassohn
    Ensemble
    Brandenburgisches Staatsorchester Frankfurt
    Conductor
    Howard Griffiths
  10. 9 IV. Allegro grazioso 07:23
    Track
    9
    Title
    IV. Allegro grazioso
    Duration
    07:23
    Composer
    Salomon Jadassohn
    Ensemble
    Brandenburgisches Staatsorchester Frankfurt
    Conductor
    Howard Griffiths
  11. Disc 2
  12. 1 I. Allegro appassionato 08:59
    Track
    1
    Title
    I. Allegro appassionato
    Duration
    08:59
    Composer
    Salomon Jadassohn
    Ensemble
    Brandenburgisches Staatsorchester Frankfurt
    Conductor
    Howard Griffiths
  13. 2 II. Andante un poco tenuto 07:01
    Track
    2
    Title
    II. Andante un poco tenuto
    Duration
    07:01
    Composer
    Salomon Jadassohn
    Ensemble
    Brandenburgisches Staatsorchester Frankfurt
    Conductor
    Howard Griffiths
  14. 3 III. Menuetto: Allegro un poco vivo 05:15
    Track
    3
    Title
    III. Menuetto: Allegro un poco vivo
    Duration
    05:15
    Composer
    Salomon Jadassohn
    Ensemble
    Brandenburgisches Staatsorchester Frankfurt
    Conductor
    Howard Griffiths
  15. 4 IV. Finale: Allegro fiero, non troppo vivace 07:01
    Track
    4
    Title
    IV. Finale: Allegro fiero, non troppo vivace
    Duration
    07:01
    Composer
    Salomon Jadassohn
    Ensemble
    Brandenburgisches Staatsorchester Frankfurt
    Conductor
    Howard Griffiths
  16. 5 Cavatine, Op. 120 09:25
    Track
    5
    Title
    Cavatine, Op. 120
    Duration
    09:25
    Composer
    Salomon Jadassohn
    Performer
    Thomas Georgi
    Ensemble
    Brandenburgisches Staatsorchester Frankfurt
    Conductor
    Howard Griffiths
  17. 6 I. Allegro patetico 06:56
    Track
    6
    Title
    I. Allegro patetico
    Duration
    06:56
    Composer
    Salomon Jadassohn
    Ensemble
    Brandenburgisches Staatsorchester Frankfurt
    Conductor
    Howard Griffiths
  18. 7 II. Scherzo: Vivo 05:57
    Track
    7
    Title
    II. Scherzo: Vivo
    Duration
    05:57
    Composer
    Salomon Jadassohn
    Ensemble
    Brandenburgisches Staatsorchester Frankfurt
    Conductor
    Howard Griffiths
  19. 8 III. Adagio affetuoso 07:31
    Track
    8
    Title
    III. Adagio affetuoso
    Duration
    07:31
    Composer
    Salomon Jadassohn
    Ensemble
    Brandenburgisches Staatsorchester Frankfurt
    Conductor
    Howard Griffiths
  20. 9 IV. Finale: Allegro decido 09:50
    Track
    9
    Title
    IV. Finale: Allegro decido
    Duration
    09:50
    Composer
    Salomon Jadassohn
    Ensemble
    Brandenburgisches Staatsorchester Frankfurt
    Conductor
    Howard Griffiths