Heinrich von Herzogenberg - Symphonies Nos. 1 & 2 (Frank Beermann)

Information

Composer: Heinrich von Herzogenberg

• (01) Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 50
• (05) Symphony No. 2 in B flat major, Op. 70

NDR Radio Philharmonic Orchestra
Frank Beermann, conductor

Date: 2006
label: cpo

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Review

ARTISTIC QUALITY: 8 / SOUND QUALITY: 10

There are Meisters, and there are “Kleinmeisters” (“minor masters”), and then there are “Überkleinmeisters” (“really minor masters”). Herzogenberg belongs to this last category. Like so many German symphonists of the mid- to late-19th century, his world was ruled by intimidation and fear: intimidation by the achievements of the past, and fear of using the orchestra for less noble, programmatic purposes. Of course, the most famous case of this kind of artistic insecurity was Brahms, but Brahms was a genius and geniuses always find their way out of a jam. Herzogenberg was no genius but was merely a competent composer who managed, after much soul-searching and angst, to squeeze out these two attractive symphonies in the mid- to late-1880s.

Make no mistake, they are attractive. The slow movement, and in particular that of the C minor symphony, are very beautiful and melodically memorable. Herzogenberg’s orchestration, cautious though it is, does not lack for color, and he knows how to write a development section, as both first movements attest. What the music lacks is drama on the one hand and humor on the other, though the B-flat symphony has plenty of charm. Humor, of course, is not exactly a German specialty in works of this type, but it does exist (consider Draeseke’s Second Symphony, for example). Still, Herzogenberg’s dogged earnestness can be trying, as in the far-too-long slow introduction for the C minor symphony’s opening movement.

When all is said and done, for all of their easy listenability these two works lack those distinctive touches that distinguish the good from the great. However, the performances sound very sympathetic: well played, sensibly paced, and flawlessly recorded. The orchestral strings understand the music’s Brahmsian style and offer plenty of warmth as well as excellent support for the woodwinds–and I know this sounds like damning with faint praise. The problem with the German “abstract” symphonic style lies in the fact that if a composer wants to subject himself to rigorous discipline in terms of form and orchestral color, he needs to compensate with a corresponding profundity of ideas and mastery of dramatic movement. Hezogenberg understands the problem but doesn’t quite have the solution. But he tries very hard, and very sincerely. For many collectors that may well be enough.

-- David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday

More reviews:
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2007/Apr07/Herzogenberg_7771222.htm
http://www.classical.net/music/recs/reviews/c/cpo77122a.php
http://www.classicalsource.com/db_control/db_cd_review.php?id=5333
https://www.allmusic.com/album/heinrich-von-herzogenberg-symphonies-1-2-mw0001864821
https://www.audaud.com/heinrich-von-herzogenberg-symphony-no-1-in-c-minor-symphony-no-2-in-b-flat-major-ndr-radiophilharmonie-frank-beermann-cpo/
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Heinrich-von-Herzogenberg-Symphonies-Von/dp/B000M2EBVK
https://www.amazon.com/Herzogenberg-Symphonies-HEINRICH-VON-HERZOGENBERG/dp/B000M2EBVK

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Heinrich von Herzogenberg (10 June 1843 – 9 October 1900) was an Austrian composer and conductor. He was attracted to the music of Richard Wagner early on, but after studying J. S. Bach's works, became an adherent of the classical tradition and an advocate for the music of Brahms. In 1874, Herzogenberg founded the Leipzig Bach-Verein and became its artistic director for 10 years. From 1885, he was Professor of Composition at the Hochschule für Musik in Berlin. While considered by many as a mere epigone of Brahms, many of Herzogenberg's compositions show little or no overt Brahmsian influence.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heinrich_von_Herzogenberg

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Frank Beermann (born 13 March 1965 in Hagen, Westphalia) is a German conductor. He studied at the Hochschule für Musik Detmold. Beermann became Generalmusikdirektor of the Robert-Schumann-Philharmonie in Chemnitz in 2007. He was also Generalmusikdirektor at the Chemnitz Opera for several years, and left the opera house after the 2015/2016 season to work as a freelance conductor. Beermann recorded several works by Robert Schumann with the orchestra named after him, and has conducted premieres and recordings of rarely performed operas and orchestral works.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Beermann

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