Niels Gade - Symphonies Vol. 1 (Christopher Hogwood)

Information

Composer: Niels Gade

• (01) Symphony No. 2 in E major, Op. 10
• (05) Symphony No. 8 in B minor, Op. 47
• (09) Allegretto, un poco lento (Discarded slow movement from Symphony No. 8)
• (10) In the Highlands, Op. 7

Danish National Symphony Orchestra
Christopher Hogwood, conductor

Date: 2000
Label: Chandos
https://www.chandos.net/products/catalogue/CHAN%209862

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Review

If you like Mendelssohn and the Leipzig School in general, you'll like Gade. A gentle composer at heart, even when Gade says "con fuoco", as in the first movement of the Eighth Symphony, this isn't Tchaikovsky or even Schumann we're talking about here. Nor will you find much ethnic or "Nordic" character in his music, least of all in the overture In the Highlands. But enough of what his music is not. While conservative in form and harmony, it often offers considerable melodic appeal, and even when he's not at his best (as in the relatively placid Second Symphony), there's usually something ear-catching to hold your attention--in this case, for example, the interesting minor-key slow movement. Also, you always can count on Gade to score transparently, and one of the best things about Christopher Hogwood's performances is the way in which he consistently allows the winds to penetrate the textures in the scherzos and slow movements. He also secures real warmth and richness of tone from the brass in the Eighth Symphony's outer movements, and keeps the music moving along effectively with nicely inflected rhythms and a secure sense of each movement's architecture. In short, these are fine performances, very well recorded, not necessarily better than Schonwandt (Da Capo) or Järvi (BIS), but just as good in their way. More to the point, they demonstrate the positive direction in which Hogwood's career as a conductor of "normal" music seems to be evolving.

-- David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday

More reviews:
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2001/Jan01/gade.htm
https://www.amazon.com/Gade-Symphonies-Vol-Niels-Wilhelm/dp/B000053HJY

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Niels Gade (22 February 1817 – 21 December 1890) was a Danish composer and teacher. Gade began his career as a violinist with the Royal Danish Orchestra. After his 1st symphony was positively received and conducted by Felix Mendelssohn, Gade himself moved to Leipzig and befriending Mendelssohn, who had an important influence on his music. He returned to Copenhagen in 1848 and became director of the Copenhagen Musical Society and Copenhagen Conservatory. Among Gade's works are 8 symphonies, a violin concerto, chamber music and a number of large-scale cantatas.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niels_Gade

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Christopher Hogwood (10 September 1941 – 24 September 2014) was an English conductor, harpsichordist, writer, and musicologist. Founder of the early music ensemble the Academy of Ancient Music (1973), he was an authority on historically informed performance and a leading figure in the early music revival of the late 20th century. Although best known for baroque and early classical repertoire, he also performed contemporary music, especially the neo-baroque and neoclassical schools, including many works by Stravinsky, Martinů and Hindemith. Hogwood also made many solo recordings of harpsichord works.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Hogwood

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