Felix Weingartner - Sextet; Octet (Ensemble Acht; Oliver Triendl)

Information

Composer: Felix Weingartner

1. Sextet in E minor, Op. 33: I. Allegretto appassionato
2. Sextet in E minor, Op. 33: II. Allegretto
3. Sextet in E minor, Op. 33: III. Adagio. In carattere d'una improvisazione, ma in tempo
4. Sextet in E minor, Op. 33: IV. Danza funebre
5. Octet in G major, Op. 73: I. Allegro
6. Octet in G major, Op. 73: II. Andante
7. Octet in G major, Op. 73: III. Tempo di Menuetto
8. Octet in G major, Op. 73: IV. Allegro moderato

Ensemble Acht
Guido Schäfer, clarinet
Karsten Nagel, bassoon
Christoph Moinian, horn
Christoph Schickedanz, violin 1
Annette Fehrmann, violin 2
Antonia Siegers, viola
Ingo Zander, cello
&
Oliver Triendl, piano

Date: 2007
Label: cpo

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Review

CPO’s continuation with the music of Felix Weingartner (1863-1942, who is of course best-known as a conductor, his abilities kept alive by numerous recordings) now turns to his chamber music; Weingartner’s four symphonies have already been documented.

The Sextet, for piano, two violins, viola, cello and double bass, is from 1906, and is cast on a large scale and lasts here 41 minutes. The impetuosity of the opening movement (Allegro appassionato) is impressive and attention-grabbing; and well sustained over the 10-minute course, although the contrastingly lyrical material seems a little too indebted to Mendelssohn’s Octet. A jaunty Allegretto follows, sprightly and endearing, and the ensuing Adagio is contemplative and open-hearted, sweetly reflective. The last and longest movement (at 14 minutes) is headed ‘Danza funebre’, the most personal and searching, quite dark (as the movement’s heading might suggest) and sinewy and strongly reminiscent of Brahms.

The Octet – for string quartet, clarinet, horn, bassoon and piano – is from 1925 but is resolutely in the previous century. This airy and often-delightful work benefits from the use of wind instruments for music that is Classical, well-crafted and written to be enjoyed, whether in the wafted euphony of the first movement, the Mozartean serenading of the second movement Andante, the courtly countenance of the ‘Tempo di Menuetto’ or the more-robust, march-like Allegro moderato finale (once again the longest movement) that is both perky and upbeat before dissolving to a more meditative interlude, a floated horn solo prominent.

Performances and recording are both excellent. Recommended with and for pleasure!

-- Colin Anderson, Classical Source

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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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The Ensemble Acht was founded in 1991 when eight musician friends came together to perform Schubert's octet. The ensemble's instrumentalists are also members of renowned orchestras or teach at music colleges. Octets and septets are the focus of the ensemble, but its broad repertoire also includes a wide range of compositions for smaller ensemble formations. The musicians are also committed to cooperation with contemporary composers, and since 1997, the ensemble has presented more than a dozen premiers. Ensemble Acht has been praised by critics for their full symphonic sound and sensitive interpretations.
http://www.ensemble-acht.de/

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Olivier Triendl (born 1970 in Mallersdorf, Bavaria) is a German pianist. He studied with Rainer Fuchs, Karl-Heinz Diehl, Eckart Besch, Gerhard Oppitz and Oleg Maisenberg, and is winner of several national and international competitions. As a soloist as well as a chamber musician, Triendl established himself in recent years as an extremely versatile artist, with about 100 CD recordings demonstrate his commitment to the unknown repertoire of the classical, romantic and contemporary music. In 2006 he founded the International Chamber Music Festival “Classix Kempten” in Kempten, Bavaria.
http://www.icmf.nl/en/musician/oliver-triendl/

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