Arthur Honegger - Symphonies Nos. 3 & 5; Pacific 231 (Neeme Järvi)

Information

Composer: Arthur Honegger

1. Symphony No. 5 in D major "Di Tre Re", H202: 1. Grave
2. Symphony No. 5 in D major "Di Tre Re", H202: Allegretto - Adagio - Allegretto - Adagio - Allegretto
3. Symphony No. 5 in D major "Di Tre Re", H202: 3. Allegro marcato
4. Symphony No. 3 "Liturgique", H186: 1. Dies irae. Allegro marcato
5. Symphony No. 3 "Liturgique", H186: 2. De profundis clamavi. Adagio
6. Symphony No. 3 "Liturgique", H186: 3. Dona nobis pacem. Andante
7. Pacific 231 (Mouvement symphonique No. 1), H53

Danish National Symphony Orchestra
Neeme Järvi, conductor
Date: 1992
Label: Chandos
http://www.theclassicalshop.net/Details.aspx?CatalogueNumber=CHAN%209176

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Review

Though seldom encountered in the concert-hall, the Honegger symphonies are decently represented on CD. There are complete cycles by Dutoit (Erato), Plasson (EMI), Baudo (Supraphon) and numerous individual symphonies, most notably Karajan's Berlin Philharmonic coupling of Nos. 2 and 3. When I first heard the Fifth in the early 1950s I was immediately struck by the resemblance of the opening bars (with their triads in contrary motion) to Milhaud's Moses and have long wondered whether it was a deliberate tribute or merely fortuitous. Not even Harry Halbreich's important new study (Fayard: 1992) resolves it. Be that as it may, the Fifth remains one of Honegger's most individual scores, and this new recording from Neeme Jarvi and the Danish Radio orchestra serves it well. Unlike Charles Dutoit and the Bavarian Radio orchestra, there is nothing restrained here and even if the finale does not quite match the sheer exhilaration and gusto of Serge Baudo's wonderful Supraphon account from the early 1960s (which now sounds far more full bodied in its new transfer), the Jarvi is not far behind: moreover it is very well recorded. So, too, is the rest of the programme and although the playing of the Danish orchestra for Jarvi in the Symphonie Liturgique does not outshine that of the Berlin Philharmonic for Karajan this is a thoroughly convincing and to my ears compelling account. The Pacific 231 also thunders mightily along the track though not quite as speedily as it did for Honegger himself (now available on Pearl). Recommended.

-- Robert Layton, Gramophone

More reviews:

http://www.classical-music.com/review/honegger-1

http://www.amazon.com/Honegger-Symphony-No-Pacific-231/dp/B000000AS2

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Arthur Honegger (10 March 1892 – 27 November 1955) was a Swiss composer, who was born in France and lived a large part of his life in Paris. He was a member of Les Six. His most frequently performed work is probably the orchestral work Pacific 231, which was inspired by the sound of a steam locomotive. His style is weightier and more solemn than that of his colleagues in Les Six.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Honegger

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Neeme Järvi (born June 7, 1937) is an Estonian conductor. He made over 400 recordings for labels such as BIS, Chandos and Deutsche Grammophon and best known for his interpretations of Romantic and 20th century classical music. Järvi is currently the artistic and musical director of the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande. Järvi and his wife Liilia have three children, the conductors Paavo Järvi and Kristjan Järvi, and flautist Maarika Järvi.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neeme_J%C3%A4rvi

http://www.neemejarvi.ee/

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