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Felix DRAESEKE
(1835-1913)
Symphony No. 3 in C, Op. 40, 'Symphonia tragica'. Funeral March in E minor, Op. 79.
North German Radio Symphony Orchestra, Hanover/Jörg-Peter Weigle.
CPO 999 581-2 [DDD] [54'58]
Crotchet
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Early in the twentieth century, Draeseke's Third Symphony was championed by such exalted names as Nikisch, Pfitzner, Reiner and Böhm. The pianist Edwin Fischer found room for Draeseke's Piano Sonata, Op. 6 in his recital programmes. Having slipped into near total obscurity, here is a convenient opportunity for reassessment of at least some of Draeseke's music.

It is easy to spot influences: there are shades of Weber in the Andante introduction, whilst the Scherzo is a sort of Mendelssohn-plus, for example. Wagner joins the rich vein of Romanticism (Draeseke visited Wagner in Switzerland and attended the premières of Tristan and Meistersinger in Munich), as does the Liszt of the symphonic poems. But playing this game can mislead, and overshadow what in this case is an impressive piece in its own right.

The North German Radio Symphony Orchestra, Hanover under Jörg-Peter Weigle certainly seems to believe in Draeseke's worth. This is a very committed performance with a fine, spacious recording to support it. There has only been one previous recording, and that was cut (on Urania URLP7162, re-released in stereo in 1979 on Varèse-Sarabande VC81092), so this account of the complete score is doubly welcome. The orchestra is fully the equal of the demands placed on it (listen to how the strings negotiate the high lines of the Trio, or how they muster such depth in the Grave).

The later Funeral March is dedicated to the memory of German soldiers who fell in Africa during the Colonial Wars. The quiet close of the symphony ushers it in well, and it contains a lyrical and heartfelt contrasting theme that is most touching.

You may well feel that this disc comes as something of a revelation.

Reviewer

Colin Clarke

Performance

Recording



Reviewer

Colin Clarke

Performance

Recording


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