Jonathan Leshnoff is a talented composer. And his fourth symphony is a well-constructed work. It has engaging themes, nicely shaped melodies, and a fresh take on tonality. But for me, it didn’t have the desired effect. The liner notes explain the concept of the work in great detail. The project Violins for Hope refurbishes instruments […]
Orchestral music
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Oliver Triendl connects with Reizenstein Concerto
When it comes to piano concertos, Franz Reizenstein is best remembered for his “Concerto Populaire,” his contribution to the Hoffnung Festivals. The 1961 Piano Concerto No. 2 is more serious, but in both, I hear a desire to connect with the audience. Reizenstein premiered the work at the keyboard. There’s plenty for the pianist to […]
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Walter Braunfels Fantastical Apparitions a Sonic Thrill Ride
The seventh release in Capriccio’s Walter Braunfels series features two important compositions — his massive set of Berlioz variations, and his final orchestral work. The “Phantastische Erscheinungen eines Themas von Hector Berlioz” (Fantastical Apparitions Of a Theme by Hector Berlioz) took three years to complete. Clocking in at just over 50 minutes, “Apparitions” is as […]
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Jozef Zeidler and Antoni Habel – Polish Classicists
Jozef Zeidler (1744-1806) and Antoni Habel (1760-1831) are major figures in the history of Polish classical music. And yet they’re almost ciphers. Almost nothing is known of Zeidler’s life or career. He wrote in the style of Mozart and Haydn, earning him the nickname “the Polish Mozart.” Zeidler’s Mass in D major does have a […]
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George Antheil Symphonies Channel Copland
Before I received a copy of this release, I only knew George Antheil through one work: the Ballet Mechanique. But Antheil was about more than scoring sirens and airplane propellors. Antheil’s Symphony No. 3 paints a series of evocative tableaux; Latino California, Creole New Orleans, Promontory Point, Baltimore. In this 1940s work, Antheil uses the […]
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Johann Nepomuk David Symphonies 2 & 4 tinged with melancholy
This release contrasts two symphonies written by Johann Nepomuk David. Symphony No. 2 Op. 20 was completed in 1938, right before World War II. Symphony No. 4 Op. 39 dates from 1948 — immediately after the war. David’s style was an absorbant sponge that soaked up many influences: Anton Bruckner, Johannes Brahms, Joseph Marx, Arnold […]
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John Robertson “Symphony No. 1” disappointing sophomore release
I enjoyed the previous Navona release of works by John Robertson. This recording features the same composer, same conductor, and the same orchestra, so I anticipated a similar experience. I was disappointed. The first disappointment was the sound of the orchestra. The ensemble sounded very thin. To my ears, the violins had a slight nasal […]
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Vyacheslav Artyomov Symphony of Elegies Inspires Anew
Divine Art continues their reissue of Vyacheslav Artyomov recordings with “A Symphony of Elegies.” Artyomov’s 1977 “A Symphony of Elegies” was written during a trip to the mountains of Dilijan, Armenia. To me, the work forms a fascinating contrast to the mountain-inspired symphonies of American/Armenian composer Alan Hovhaness. Both composers eschew the standard notion of […]
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François-Joseph Gossec Symphonies Immensely Entertaining
François-Joseph Gossec was a major musical figure in the late 1700s. His influence didn’t travel far outside of France. Within its boundaries, though, Gossec created a new aesthetic that inspired composers for decades. Gossec fully embraced the aesthetic of classicism and injected it with some forward-looking innovations. This collection of his Opus 4 symphonies has […]