Niels Gade - Symphonies Vol. 2 (Christopher Hogwood)

Information

Composer: Niels Gade

• (01) Concert Overture No. 3 in C major, Op. 14
• (02) Symphony No. 7 in F major , Op. 45
• (06) Symphony No. 4 in B flat major, Op. 20

Danish National Symphony Orchestra
Christopher Hogwood, conductor

Date: 2001
Label: Chandos
https://www.chandos.net/products/catalogue/CHAN%209957

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Review

Christopher Hogwood's recording of Niels Gade's Fourth Symphony originally appeared in tandem with music by another composer, but so successfully does he realize Gade's particular mixture of neo-classical and conservative Romantic elements that it's no surprise that Chandos opted to go for a complete cycle. While the Concert Overture No. 3 sounds a trifle anonymous, the two symphonies contain plenty of interesting music, from an impressive "funeral march" Andante and wonderful Scherzo in Symphony No. 7, to No. 4's irresistibly breezy finale. Say what you will about Gade: he knew how to make his music "go", and so does Hogwood, whose firm rhythmic control and ideally transparent textures, never stinting on timpani, brass, and winds, reveal masterful orchestration and a far gutsier idiom than received opinion generally allows. Gorgeous sonics complete an exceptionally attractive picture of a composer too often dismissed as an unimaginative hack. Terrific.

-- David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday

More reviews:
BBC Music Magazine  PERFORMANCE: ***** / SOUND: ***
https://www.gramophone.co.uk/review/gade-symphonies-4-7
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2001/Dec01/gade2.htm
http://www.classical.net/music/recs/reviews/c/cha09957a.php
https://www.amazon.com/Gade-Symphonies-Vol-Niels/dp/B00005QF3O

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

***

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

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

FLAC, tracks

Links in comment

Enjoy!