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Naxos

The 18th Century Symphony - Kraus: Symphonies Vol 3

$19.99 Only 1 left

Details

Composer
KRAUS
Artist
Swedish Chamber Orch.
Format
CD
Label
Naxos
Released
Oct 01, 2000
Catalog #
8554777
UPC
636943477724

About

Any composer dubbed by Haydn as "one of the greatest geniuses I have met" deserves serious attention. One such was German-born Joseph Martin Kraus. Born the same year as Mozart (1756), Kraus survived him by a year, dying of tuberculosis at age 36. Remarkably, despite having lived in Sweden for less than eight years, he was befriended by King Gustavus III and became the country's greatest 18th century composer. That reputation is gaining wider endorsement today through a pioneering Kraus series on Naxos, of which this is the latest installment. The performers, as before, are the Swedish Chamber Orchestra under Petter Sundkvist, who continue to give exemplary readings of these remarkable if obscure late Classical symphonies.


Though the C-sharp minor and E minor works that open and close this program fully reflect the tastes and semantics of their era, the Symphony in C minor, subtitled "Symphonie funèbre", is an astonishing discovery. Written in April, 1792, following the assassination of Gustav III (the event inspired operas by Verdi and Auber and its political repercussions were felt throughout Europe), this is one of the most extraordinary musical valedictions to pre-date Beethoven's Eroica. All four movements are somber and slow-moving, and the use of timpani, solemn brass, and muted strings seem uncomfortably alien to a work of the period. This is an exceptionally fine account; Sundkvist's orchestra plays magnificently under his watchful direction, and the solo cello and horn in the chorale section of the finale sound suitably eloquent.


This disc also includes Kraus’ Overture in D minor (according to Haydn's friend Fredrik Silverstolpe, Swedish ambassador to Vienna, it was performed by mixed wind band at Good Friday services in Stockholm for many years) in its original instrumentation, the outcome of detailed reconstruction of Kraus' original manuscripts. Another surprise is the C # minor 'Sinfonia da camera'; the second section of its minuet is simply the first part played backwards (a trick Haydn himself tried on occasion)! As with previous releases, the Swedish Chamber Orchestra and Sundkvist, offer spirited and polished orchestral playing and a bright-well-balanced recording. Highly recommended.
--Michael Jameson, ClassicsToday.com

Tracklist 12 tracks

  1. 1 I. Andante di molto 07:37
    Track
    1
    Title
    I. Andante di molto
    Duration
    07:37
    Composer
    Joseph Martin Kraus
    Ensemble
    Svenska Kammarorkestern
    Conductor
    Petter Sundkvist
  2. 2 II. Andantino 04:09
    Track
    2
    Title
    II. Andantino
    Duration
    04:09
    Composer
    Joseph Martin Kraus
    Ensemble
    Svenska Kammarorkestern
    Conductor
    Petter Sundkvist
  3. 3 III. Minuetto I 02:01
    Track
    3
    Title
    III. Minuetto I
    Duration
    02:01
    Composer
    Joseph Martin Kraus
    Ensemble
    Svenska Kammarorkestern
    Conductor
    Petter Sundkvist
  4. 4 IV. Allegro 05:58
    Track
    4
    Title
    IV. Allegro
    Duration
    05:58
    Composer
    Joseph Martin Kraus
    Ensemble
    Svenska Kammarorkestern
    Conductor
    Petter Sundkvist
  5. 5 I. Andante mesto 07:06
    Track
    5
    Title
    I. Andante mesto
    Duration
    07:06
    Composer
    Joseph Martin Kraus
    Ensemble
    Svenska Kammarorkestern
    Conductor
    Petter Sundkvist
  6. 6 II. Larghetto 02:41
    Track
    6
    Title
    II. Larghetto
    Duration
    02:41
    Composer
    Joseph Martin Kraus
    Ensemble
    Svenska Kammarorkestern
    Conductor
    Petter Sundkvist
  7. 7 III. Chorale 00:44
    Track
    7
    Title
    III. Chorale
    Duration
    00:44
    Composer
    Joseph Martin Kraus
    Ensemble
    Svenska Kammarorkestern
    Conductor
    Petter Sundkvist
  8. 8 IV. Adagio 07:27
    Track
    8
    Title
    IV. Adagio
    Duration
    07:27
    Composer
    Joseph Martin Kraus
    Ensemble
    Svenska Kammarorkestern
    Conductor
    Petter Sundkvist
  9. 9 Overture in D Minor, VB 147 10:05
    Track
    9
    Title
    Overture in D Minor, VB 147
    Duration
    10:05
    Composer
    Joseph Martin Kraus
    Ensemble
    Svenska Kammarorkestern
    Conductor
    Petter Sundkvist
  10. 10 I. Allegro spiritoso 05:06
    Track
    10
    Title
    I. Allegro spiritoso
    Duration
    05:06
    Composer
    Joseph Martin Kraus
    Ensemble
    Svenska Kammarorkestern
    Conductor
    Petter Sundkvist
  11. 11 II. Adagio non tanto ma con espressione 04:49
    Track
    11
    Title
    II. Adagio non tanto ma con espressione
    Duration
    04:49
    Composer
    Joseph Martin Kraus
    Ensemble
    Svenska Kammarorkestern
    Conductor
    Petter Sundkvist
  12. 12 III. Presto 05:20
    Track
    12
    Title
    III. Presto
    Duration
    05:20
    Composer
    Joseph Martin Kraus
    Ensemble
    Svenska Kammarorkestern
    Conductor
    Petter Sundkvist