Felix Weingartner; Franz Schubert - Violin Concerto; Symphony in E (Albrecht Breuninger; Alun Francis)

Information

Composer: Felix Weingartner; Franz Schubert

1. Weingartner - Violin Concerto in G major, Op. 52: I. Allegro placido
2. Weingartner - Violin Concerto in G major, Op. 52: II. Andantino quasi allegretto
3. Weingartner - Violin Concerto in G major, Op. 52: III. Caprice savoyard: Allegro molto deciso
4. Schubert - Symphony [No. 7] in E major, D. 729 (arr. Weingartner): I. Adagio (ma non troppo) - Allegro
5. Schubert - Symphony [No. 7] in E major, D. 729 (arr. Weingartner): II. Andante
6. Schubert - Symphony [No. 7] in E major, D. 729 (arr. Weingartner): III. Scherzo. Allegro deciso - Trio. Meno mosso
7. Schubert - Symphony [No. 7] in E major, D. 729 (arr. Weingartner): IV. Allegro vivace

Albrecht Breuninger, violin
SWR Radio Orchestra Kaiserslautern
Alun Francis, conductor

Date: 2009
Label: cpo

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Review

A disc that proves that Weingartner was more than just a fine conductor

Felix Weingartner is best known to most of us for his much-revered pre-war recordings of the Beethoven and Brahms symphonies but like so many fine conductors of that golden era he was also an accomplished composer. His Violin Concerto is an attractive work which, when it was premiered in the hands of Fritz Kreisler in 1912, was described as “a little festival of the violin, full of life’s joy”. The song-like opening suggests a Victorian parlour recollected, but the orchestral writing soon blossoms and the soloist makes an expressive entrance. Needless to say this perceptive interpreter of the standard classics knew how to present his musical arguments, and the order and layout of themes is beautifully judged, especially in the sizeable first movement. As to influences, I’d say Strauss is a sure-fire bet, especially in the capricious faster music; Brahms is there too, so is Wagner, and yet the composer who most often sprung to my mind was Max Bruch. It’s a very pleasant work, if not without its darker moments (beam up beyond the “Korngoldian” centre of the slow movement) and Laurent Albrecht Breuninger’s violin-playing combines playfulness with a welcome warmth of tone.

The Schubert symphony, potentially No 7 in the cycle, is the one in E, catalogued as D729, which was sketched in full score in 1821 and includes a full orchestration of the start of the first movement. There are performing versions by Brian Newbould and John Barnett as well as this fitfully idiomatic effort by Weingartner. Many of the themes have a Schubertian affability about them (the beginning of the finale, for example) though as presented some of the textures sound decidedly Brahmsian (ie 7'36" into the second movement). I’d say that the score’s most memorable music resides precisely there, but as so often with these performing versions, one rarely senses a true centre of gravity, just wandering motifs in search of a worthy harmonic context which they never quite manage to find. Alun Francis directs sympathetic performances of both works, well recorded, but be warned you’ll need to work hard at fathoming the well-meaning but (as translated) somewhat convoluted booklet-note.

-- Rob Cowan, Gramophone

More reviews:
ClassicsToday  ARTISTIC QUALITY: 8 / SOUND QUALITY: 8
https://www.allmusic.com/album/felix-weingartner-violin-concerto-schubert-symphony-in-e-mw0001410300
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Weingartner-Violin-Concerto-Schubert-Symphony/dp/B002K3GP2M

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Felix Weingartner (2 June 1863 – 7 May 1942) was an Austrian conductor, composer and pianist. He studied at the Leipzig Conservatory, and was one of Franz Liszt's last pupils in Weimar. Weingartner was the first conductor to make commercial recordings of all nine Beethoven symphonies, and the second to record all four Brahms symphonies. Despite his lifelong career as a conductor, Weingartner regarded himself as equally, if not more importantly, a composer. Besides numerous operas, Weingartner wrote seven symphonies, a sinfonietta, violin concerto, cello concerto, orchestral works, string quartets, quintets and lieder.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felix_Weingartner

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Winning the second prize in June 1997, Laurent Albrecht Breuninger was the first German violinist ever to be placed in the first three in the history of the Queen Elisabeth Competition since it was founded in 1951. He studied with Thomas Füri in Winterthur and Zürich, and with Josef Rissin in Karlsruhe. Other influences include Henryk Szeryng and Ruggiero Ricci. Breuninger has recorded renowned label CPO. Additionally, he is active as a composer and often performs his own compositions in his recitals. He also cultivates a close bond with various contemporary composers both as a performer and composer.
http://en.chopin.nifc.pl/chopin/persons/text/id/7444

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