STRAUSS: Also srrach Zarathustra, Op. 30. MAHLER: Totenfeier.
Symphonic Prelude for Orchestra (reconstructed by Albrecht Gursching.)
Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra / Vladimir Jurowski, cond.
PENTATONE SACDE 518§597 TT: 64:46
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STRAUSS: Festival Prelude, Op. 61. SCHMIDT: Symphony No. 2 in E flat
Beethoven Orchestra Bonn / Stefan Blunier, cond,
MDG SACD 9372006 TT: 62:33
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SCHUBERT: Piano Trio No. 2 D 929. Adagio D 897 "Notturno"
Trio Alba
MDG SACD 903 2013 TT: 60:17
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Vladimir Jurowski(b. 1972, son of Mikhail Jurowski), is one of today's
leading conductors in the opera house as well as the concert hall. He
focuses particularly on Russian repertory, and has made many superb recordings,
some of which have been praised on this site. In September 2017, Jurowski
was appointed Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of the Berlin Radio
Symphony and now we have this Strauss/Mahler SACD. Of prime interest
here
is the virtually unknown Symphonic Prelude,
a 9-minute work that suggests little of the emotion and
sound of Mahler's later works. This is understandable as it was composed
when Mahler was a student of Bruckner, who doubtless was a major influence
in its composition. In any case, the original
manuscript and parts, recently re-discovered in the Munich Philharmonic
library, is in the handwriting of and is signed by Bruckner's pupil,
Rudolf Krzyanowski, who on the title page ascribes the work to Anton
Bruckner.On this recording we hear an adaptation by Albrecht
Sürsching.Iit surely is well performed here.
I believe
this is the only recording, a welcome minor addition to the Mahler catalog.
Also we have the original first movement of Mahler's Symphony No. 2,
Totenenfeier.
I was
disappointed
by this
performance
of Zarathustra. The opening Sunrise is perfunctory. The recordings
were made June 2016 in Berlin's RB B studios. The organ is played by
Tobias
Berndt on the Seifert Organ of the St. Matthias Kirsche in Berlin. The
dubbed sound is not very impressive. There are numerous competing recordings
of this Strauss masterpiece superior both musically and sonically to
what is heard here.
This site mentioned a new recording of Franz Schmidt's Symphony No. 2
with the Vienna Philharmonic directed by Semyon Bychkov (REVIEW). Also
available
is an historic performance with the same orchestra directed by Erich
Leinsdorf (REVIEW). The SACD begins with a seldom-heard work by Richard
Strauss,
Festival Prelude, Op. 61 which was premiered October 19, 1913 with the
composer on the podium. It was commissioned to mark the dedication of
the Vienna Konzerthaus. Scored for a huge orchestra with organ, it is
a grand
work, typical late Strauss. The most impressive performance I've heard
is a live BBC Proms performance that featured the mighty Royal Albert
Hall Organ in its full glory. This new recording is not as grandiose.
The Schmidt
symphony is given a solid performance, but this music is of limited interest.
These are live recordings made March 2016 in Bonn's Beethoven Hall. Excellent
rich orchestral sound.
MDG also offers a performance of Schubert's large-scale Piano Trio No.
2 with the charming Adagio D 897 as an encore. Trio Alba Trio was formed
in 2008. It consists of violinist Livia Sellin, cellist Philipp Camplot.
and pianist Chengcheng Zhao. They were praised for their performances
at the International Competition Schubert and Modern Music in 2012. Surely
these are fine performances, but the recording made January 2016 in Abtei
Marienmümster Konzerthaus places performers very close which is
not flattering to the string instruments. Even with the filler, playing
time
is rather brief.
R.E.B. (October 2017)
(NEXT SURROUND SOUND REVIEW)
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