Niels Gade - Symphonies Vol. 3 (Christopher Hogwood)

Information

Composer: Niels Gade

• (01) Echoes of Ossian, Op. 1
• (02) Symphony No. 3 in A minor, Op. 15
• (06) Andante (Discarded first movement from Symphony No. 3)
• (07) Symphony No. 6 in G minor, Op. 32

Danish National Symphony Orchestra
Christopher Hogwood, conductor

Date: 2001
Label: Chandos
https://www.chandos.net/products/catalogue/CHAN%209795

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Review

Niels Gade may not have been a particularly original personality, but his music is well made and though conservative, gives hints of more interesting things to come. For example, both the relaxed third movement of his Third Symphony and its rugged counterpart in the Sixth strikingly anticipate the "non-scherzos" of Nielsen's Second and Third Symphonies, respectively. Symphony No. 6 begins and ends in a minor key--very unexpected at any period--and its wild finale should put to rest rumors of Gade's invariable tameness. The same holds true of the Third Symphony's opening movement, which was completely replaced on revision. Christopher Hogwood's thoughtful inclusion of the composer's somewhat stodgy and repetitious first efforts show him successfully working to increase thematic interest, rhythmic tension, and dramatic flow (the final version is not only quicker, but arrives at a surprise ending, pizzicato, as in the opening movement of Sibelius' First Symphony).

In fact, the only work here that betrays any specifically "Nordic" coloring is the earliest piece of all, the overture Echoes of Ossian (Op. 1), which features some aptly "bardic" horn writing and a lovely harp part. Still, there's much more to these symphonies than "faux-Mendelssohn", and the credit for making this fact so evident goes entirely to Hogwood, who conducts really splendid performances. His period instrument work clearly puts him in good stead here, even as his stature as a conductor of music of all eras continues to impress. He has the timpanist use hard sticks and makes sure that wind and brass parts cut cleanly through the string textures (crucial in the outer movement especially), but he's not afraid to linger over a phrase now and again, as at the opening of the Third Symphony's very pretty Andante.

Unlike Järvi (BIS), who has a chamber orchestra, or the rhythmically mushier and less clearly recorded Schonwandt (Dacapo), Hogwood dispatches the music's neo-classical elements with the necessary verve while still leaving room for aptly rich string textures and the occasional rush of Romantic ardor. Excellent sonics round out a disc that, when all is said and done, offers the best versions currently available of these works. If you haven't taken to Gade, these performances might change your mind, and if you've been hesitating to take the plunge, then start here.

-- David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday

More reviews:
https://www.gramophone.co.uk/review/gade-symphonies-vol-4
http://www.classical.net/music/recs/reviews/c/cha09795a.php
https://www.amazon.com/Gade-Symphonies-Vol-Niels/dp/B00006FSPJ

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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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