Raff's music is only recently coming to be as a fair representative of the
German romantic mainstream. He has been relegated to the status of a
post-Mendelssohn reject or even worse, a Lizst lackey, only good for
orchestrating the master's suspiciously varied symphonic poems. However these
finely crafted and immensely polished performances of these two symphonies
prove otherwise. The Fourth is classically conceived with an expansive Allegro
and beautifully pensive Andante matched by a short Scherzo and rumbustious
Finale.
Indeed it is reminiscent of the Schumann 2nd in that the slow
movement is placed third although there the obvious similarities end. Davan
Wetton is a persuasive advocate of the music and the polish and care lavished
on the music is something not to be found in Marco Polo's recording with
Urs Schneider. Robert Dearling makes comparisons with Mendelssohn, something
I am wont to agree with when hearing that feather-light Scherzo again! Hyperion
place the Third after the Fourth and with good reason, as the former is the
most expansive and thoughtfully original work from the coupling provided
here.
This time Raff reverts to the more classical style in placing the slow movement
second. I enjoyed the orchestra's waspish bait in the biting allegro assai
that follows the Largo although Davan Wetton's slow tempo in the first movement
is slightly out-of-sorts. The subtitle 'In the Forest' comes into the equation
with the final Allegro, a veritable tour-de-force' of orchestral mastery
and scenic painting.
If perhaps slightly on the slow side, Davan Wetton's visionary glimpsing
of a romantic glade is unsurpassed for its dreaminess and magnificent period
imagery. Horns and brass are gloriously prominent whilst the Milton Keynes
strings are wonderfully alert and responsive. You cannot really call these
works masterpieces, but they do provide some entertaining atmosphere and
are a pleasant listen throughout. The Helios presentation is absolutely superb
with copious notes (Dearling) and a stunning Dore' painting on the front
cover aptly titled 'In the Forest'. For a little more than a fiver, who could
possibly resist?!
Reviewer
Gerald Fenech
Performance:
Sound:
Milton Keynes City Orchestra Hilary Davan Wetton
