Franz Schubert’s Symphony in C major very much deserves its popular designation: it is indeed “The Great.” After all, its playing length of an hour means that it transcends the dimensions of everything that came before it. Moreover, with this mighty feat Schubert was very much inviting direct comparison with the works of a certain composer who was almost thirty years his senior: Beethoven. Peter Gülke and his Brandenburg Symphony discover hidden and more obvious allusions while situating this gigantic work, complete and unabridged, in a previously hardly noticed, surprising comparative context and present the results in vibrant SACD sound. On this recording Peter Gulke once again shows why he has been showered with the highest honors in the field of music and the study of literature. Just in time for the two hundredth anniversary of the Brandenburg Theatre, he and his orchestra are in top form. In keeping with the festive occasion- and the outstanding importance of the work- Schubert’s symphony is heard in luxurious three-dimensional sound. Genuinely great music conveyed in magnificent audio form!
The serenade for orchestra in D major, K. 250 (248b), popularly known as the "Haffner Serenade", was composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart on the commission of Sigmund Haffner Junior in 1776. The serenade is undoubtedly a jewel among Mozart's Salzburg compositions. The eight-movement work is Mozart's most extensive serenade and also the one with the largest instrumentation, with 13 instruments. Yet it is almost forgotten, or overshadowed, by it's famous Viennese counterpart, the Symphony in D major K. 385, the "Haffner Symphony", commissioned by Leopold Mozart in the summer of 1781 for the nobilization of Johann Sigmund Haffner. The first and last movements of the serenade gain additional weight through slow introductions. The first minuet is remarkably witty. It is embedded in the concerto movements of the serenade and it is in a minor key against all tradition. This is a charming joke on the part of the composer, for the melody is by no means serious, but a minor variant of a folk song known today as "I'm Marzen der Bauer". The virtuosic solo parts throughout the recording are played by conductor and violinist Daniel Dodds. An exclusive bonus track of this album is the world premiere recording of "Armonia con Capriccio" by Vicenzo Righini (1756 -1812) which has never been recorded in this particular version. The Italian Righini was contemporary of Mozart and a successful tenor, bandmaster and composer in his day. The track is a beautiful piece for violin and orchestra from his opera "Gerusalemme liberata ossia Armida al campo de' franchi".
Sibelius: Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 43 / Kitajenko, Cologne Gurzenich Orchestra
Oehms Classics
CD
$14.99Jun 08, 2018
The influential critic Karl Flodin commented after the premiere of Sibelius’ Second Symphony: “A symphonic poem the like of Sibelius’ Second Symphony has never been heard before, it’s something rarely heard in the genre of modern symphony. The more you listen to this brilliant work, the more powerful its contours seem, the deeper its soul appears and the more striking become the clues which hint at an understanding of this composition.” OehmsClassics has found the perfect partners for this recording with Dmitrij Kitajenko and the Gurzenich Orchestra Cologne and has complimented Sebelius’ Second Symphony with two delightful short pieces by Edvard Grieg. The Gürzenich Orchestra of Cologne is one of Germany’s leading orchestras and can look back on a great tradition. Since 1986 the ensemble’s home has been at the Kölner Philharmonie, where it presents about 50 concerts annually, simultaneously giving over 160 performances a year at the Cologne Opera.
George Szell's commitment to musical truth made him an intimidating figure - even among the other formidable conductors of the 20th century. His uncompromising quest for perfection drew performances of exalted quality from soloists and orchestras. In particular, his long tenure as the Cleveland Orchestra's music director (1946-1970) established it firmly as one of the world's great ensembles. This recording of Franz Schubert's masterwork, the "Great" Ninth Symphony, is one of the highlights of the discography Szell and the Cleveland Orchestra made for EMI. It is proposed here in the 2019 remastering done by Warner Japan.
Dvorak: Mass in D major; Biblical Songs; Te Deum / Smetáček, Prague Symphony
Supraphon
CD
$25.99Aug 04, 2023
Antonín Dvorák was a deeply religious person, and sacred music duly constitutes a significant part of his oeuvre. The present album features three different types of works. The Mass in D major was commissioned by the composer’s patron Josef Hlávka for the inauguration of a country chapel. The Biblical Songs are highly intimate pieces, set to the Czech translation of Dvorák’s favourite Psalms, while Te Deum is a magnificent cantata for festive events, which, however, just like the other two works, affords space for contemplation and meditation. All three opuses are adorned with inspired melodies, as well as intriguing involvement of the solo singers and the choir. The album contains recordings made by the Prague Philharmonic Choir and the Prague Symphony Orchestra in 1969 and 1970. The Biblical Songs are performed by the baritone Jindrich Jindrák, a long-time soloist of the National Theatre in Prague. Dvorák’s heartfelt sacred music, singularly performed by superb artists.
