GREAT ROMANTIC SYMPHONIES (10-CD Box Set)

The word ‘symphony’ is used to describe an extended orchestral composition in Western classical music. By the eighteenth century the Italianate opera sinfonia—musical interludes between operas or concertos—had assumed the structure of three contrasting movements, and it is this form that is often considered as the direct forerunner of the orchestral symphony. With the rise of established professional orchestras, the symphony assumed a more prominent place in concert life between 1790 and 1820 until it eventually came to be regarded by many as the yardstick by which one would measure a composer’s achievement.

The nineteenth century brought various changes to the symphonic form. Although both inspired by Beethoven, Berlioz’s experiments with instrumental colour and orchestral size are a world away from the colossal symphonies of Brahms. Composers such as Mahler and Bruckner pushed the traditional symphonic landscapes to their limits, in sharp contrast to the uplifting Classically based symphonies of Mendelssohn and Schubert. The nationalistic flavours apparent in the programme symphonies of Schumann, Strauss and Dvořák exemplify the way in which the symphonic form flourished in the Romantic era, whilst the visceral impact of the Gallic panache is typified by the symphonies of Franck and Saint-Saëns.


Disc 1

Schubert, Franz
[Hide Details]   Symphony No. 8 in B minor, D. 759, "Unfinished"
Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra
Halasz, Michael, Conductor
 
1.   		I. Allegro moderato 00:14:50
2.   		II. Andante con moto 00:11:13
[Hide Details]   Symphony No. 9 in C major, D. 944, "Great"
Budapest Failoni Chamber Orchestra
Halasz, Michael, Conductor
 
3.   		I. Andante - Allegro ma non troppo 00:16:20
4.   		II. Andante con moto 00:14:22
5.   		III. Scherzo: Allegro vivace 00:13:24
6.   		IV. Finale: Allegro vivace 00:12:07


Disc 2

Brahms, Johannes
[Hide Details]   Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 68
Belgian Radio and Television Philharmonic Orchestra
Rahbari, Alexander, Conductor
 
1.   		I. Un poco sostenuto - Allegro 00:13:17
2.   		II. Andante sostenuto 00:10:09
3.   		III. Un poco allegretto e grazioso 00:05:04
4.   		IV. Adagio - Allegro non troppo ma con brio 00:18:30

Schumann, Robert
[Hide Details]   Symphony No. 1 in B flat major, Op. 38, "Spring"
Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra
Wit, Antoni, Conductor
 
5.   		I. Andante un poco maestro - Allegro molto vivace 00:11:49
6.   		II. Larghetto 00:06:56
7.   		III. Scherzo: Molto vivace 00:05:33
8.   		IV. Allegro animato e grazioso 00:08:21


Disc 3

Brahms, Johannes
[Hide Details]   Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98
Belgian Radio and Television Philharmonic Orchestra
Rahbari, Alexander, Conductor
 
1.   		I. Allegro non troppo 00:14:31
2.   		II. Andante Moderato 00:12:27
3.   		III. Allegro Giocoso - Poco meno Presto 00:06:30
4.   		IV. Allegro Energico e Passionato - Piu Allegro 00:12:57

Schumann, Robert
[Hide Details]   Symphony No. 4 in D minor, Op. 120
Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra
Wit, Antoni, Conductor
 
5.   		I. Ziemlich langsam - Lebhaft 00:11:12
6.   		II. Romanze: Ziemlich langsam 00:04:52
7.   		III. Scherzo: Lebhaft 00:05:55
8.   		IV. Langsam - Lebhaft 00:08:38


Disc 4

Mendelssohn, Felix
[Hide Details]   Symphony No. 3 in A minor, Op. 56, "Scottish"
Ireland National Symphony Orchestra
Seifried, Reinhard, Conductor
 
1.   		I. Andante con moto - Allegro un poco agitato - Andante come prima 00:13:00
2.   		II. Vivace non troppo 00:04:21
3.   		III. Adagio 00:10:15
4.   		IV. Allegro vivacissimo - Allegro maestoso assai 00:09:54
[Hide Details]   Symphony No. 4 in A major, Op. 90, "Italian"
Ireland National Symphony Orchestra
Seifried, Reinhard, Conductor
 
5.   		I. Allegro vivace 00:10:51
6.   		II. Andante con moto 00:06:35
7.   		III. Con moto moderato 00:07:08
8.   		IV. Saltarello: Presto 00:05:36


Disc 5

Berlioz, Hector
[Hide Details]   Symphonie fantastique, Op. 14
San Diego Symphony Orchestra
Talmi, Yoav, Conductor
 
1.   		I. Reveries: Largo - Passions: Allegro agitato e appassionato assai 00:13:14
2.   		II. Un Bal (Valse): Allegro non troppo 00:06:15
3.   		III. Scene aux Champs: Adagio 00:15:34
4.   		IV. Marche au Supplice: Allegretto non troppo 00:04:47
5.   		V. Songe d'une Nuit du Sabbat: Larghetto - Allegro 00:10:04
[Hide Details]   Benvenuto Cellini, Op. 23
San Diego Symphony Orchestra
Talmi, Yoav, Conductor
 
6.   		Benvenuto Cellini, Op. 23 00:10:46
[Hide Details]   Le carnaval romain, Op. 9
San Diego Symphony Orchestra
Talmi, Yoav, Conductor
 
7.   		Le carnaval romain, Op. 9 00:09:02


Disc 6

Mahler, Gustav
[Hide Details]   Symphony No. 1 in D major, "Titan"
Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra
Halasz, Michael, Conductor
 
1.   		I. Langsam, schleppend 00:16:19
2.   		II. Kraftig bewegt, doch nicht zu schnell 00:07:32
3.   		III. Feierlich und gemessen, ohne zu schleppen 00:10:02
4.   		IV. Sturmisch bewegt 00:19:30
5.   		Blumine (original second movement) 00:07:16


Disc 7

Bruckner, Anton
[Hide Details]   Symphony No. 4 in E flat major, WAB 104, "Romantic" (1881 version, ed. R. Haas)
Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Tintner, Georg, Conductor
 
1.   		I. Bewegt, nicht zu schnell 00:21:33
2.   		II. Andante quasi allegretto 00:16:19
3.   		III. Scherzo: Bewegt 00:12:05
4.   		IV. Finale: Bewegt, doch nicht zu schnell 00:23:10


Disc 8

Saint-Saens, Camille
[Hide Details]   Symphony No. 3 in C minor, Op. 78, "Organ"
Szabo, Imrich, organ
Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
Gunzenhauser, Stephen, Conductor
 
1.   		I. Adagio - Allegro moderato - 00:10:23
2.   		I. Poco adagio 00:11:06
3.   		II. Allegro moderato - Presto - Allegro moderato - Presto - Allegro moderato - 00:07:50
4.   		II. Maestoso - Allegro - Piu allegro - Molto allegro - Pesante 00:07:57

Franck, Cesar
[Hide Details]   Symphony in D minor
Arnhem Philharmonic Orchestra
Benzi, Roberto, Conductor
 
5.   		I. Lento: Allegro non troppo 00:18:42
6.   		II. Allegretto 00:11:17
7.   		III. Finale: Allegro non troppo 00:10:46


Disc 9

Dvorak, Antonin
[Hide Details]   Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95, B. 178, "From the New World"
Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra
Gunzenhauser, Stephen, Conductor
 
1.   		I. Adagio 00:11:40
2.   		II. Largo 00:12:01
3.   		III. Molto vivace 00:08:08
4.   		IV. Allegro con fuoco 00:11:11
[Hide Details]   Symphonic Variations, Op. 78, B. 70
Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra
Gunzenhauser, Stephen, Conductor
 
5.   		Symphonic Variations, Op. 78, B. 70 00:22:06


Disc 10

Strauss, Richard
[Hide Details]   Eine Alpensinfonie (An Alpine Symphony), Op. 64, TrV 233
Weimar Staatskapelle
Wit, Antoni, Conductor
 
1.   		Nacht (Night) - 00:03:57
2.   		Sonnenaufgang (Sunrise) - 00:01:28
3.   		Der Anstieg (The Ascent) - 00:02:17
4.   		Eintritt in den Wald (Entry into the Wood) - 00:06:08
5.   		Wanderung neben dem Bache (Wandering by the Stream) - 00:00:48
6.   		Am Wasserfall (At the Waterfall) - 00:00:15
7.   		Erscheinung (Apparition) - 00:00:46
8.   		Auf blumigen Wiesen (On Flowering Meadows) - 00:00:56
9.   		Auf der Alm (On the Alpine Pasture) - 00:02:37
10.   		Durch Dickicht und Gestrupp auf Irrwegen (Straying through Thicket and Undergrowth) - 00:01:31
11.   		Auf dem Gletscher (On the Glacier) - 00:01:04
12.   		Gefahrvolle Augenblicke (Dangerous Moments) - 00:01:29
13.   		Auf dem Gipfel (On the Summit) - 00:05:19
14.   		Vision - 00:03:58
15.   		Nebel steigen auf (Mists rise) - 00:00:20
16.   		Die Sonne verdustert sich allmahlich (The Sun gradually darkens) - 00:00:56
17.   		Elegie - 00:02:12
18.   		Stille vor der Sturm (Calm before the Storm) - 00:03:07
19.   		Gewitter und Sturm, Abstieg (Thunder and Storm, Descent) - 00:03:54
20.   		Sonnenuntergang (Sunset) - 00:02:15
21.   		Ausklang (Final Sounds) - 00:06:35
22.   		Nacht (Night) 00:02:23
[Hide Details]   Don Juan, Op. 20, TrV 156
Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra
Kosler, Zdenek, Conductor
 
23.   		Don Juan, Op. 20, TrV 156 00:17:54
		
Total Playing Time: 12:05:21