Franz Krommer - Symphonies Nos. 6 & 9 (Howard Griffiths)

Information

Composer: Franz Krommer

• (01) Symphony No. 6 in D major
• (05) Symphony No. 9 in C major

Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana

Howard Griffiths, conductor

Date: 2020

Label: cpo

https://www.jpc.de/jpcng/cpo/detail/-/art/franz-krommer-symphonien-nr-6-9/hnum/9672526

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Review

ARTISTIC QUALITY: 9 / SOUND QUALITY: 9

Franz Krommer was such a fine composer–perhaps not the most original voice of his age (1759-1831), but a really good musician who could produce characterful ideas and treat them imaginatively. Both of these symphonies are relatively late works. They have appealing tunes, a wide range of moods, bracing rhythms, and confident, colorful scoring. Listen to Krommer’s handling of the woodwind and brass instruments, especially in the finales, or to the almost Beethovenish energy in the scherzos. He was, in short, a real symphonist, and despite the fact that both works are nominally written “in” major keys, there’s plenty of harmonic contrast to keep you guessing–not least in the impressive first movement introductions.

As with other discs in this series, Howard Griffiths leads confident and lively performances, very well recorded. The rhythms, phrasing, firm timpani and bold brass interjections suggest the influence of “historically informed performance,” but not to the point of sounding mannered or mechanical. The slow movements really sing, and string timbres have the necessary warmth. Both works last about half an hour, and there wasn’t a dull moment in either of them. All in all, if you’ve been collecting this series, then this new release will be a mandatory acquisition. Get it while you can.

-- David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday

More reviews:

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classRev/2020/Jun/Krommer_sys_5553372.htm

https://www.wtju.net/franz-krommer-symphonies-emulate-beethoven/

https://www.amazon.com/Symphonies-Orchestra-della-Svizzera-italiana/dp/B0851LN8LV

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Franz Krommer (27 November 1759 in Kamenice u Jihlavy – 8 January 1831 in Vienna) was a Czech violinist and composer of classical music. He was a violinist in the orchestra of the duke of Styria, and Maestro di Cappella for Duke Ignaz Fuchs, before succeeding Leopold Kozeluch as composer for the Imperial Court of Austria (from 1813 until his death in 1831). Krommer's output was prolific, with at least 300 published compositions in at least 110 opus numbers, including at least 9 symphonies, 70 string quartets, 15 string quintets, and many works for wind ensemble, for which he is best known today.

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

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Howard Griffiths (born 24 February 1950 in Hastings) is a British conductor. Griffiths studied music at the Royal College of Music, London, and has lived in Switzerland since 1981. He was Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Zurich Chamber Orchestra from 1996 to 2006. Since the season 2007/08, he is General Music Director of the Brandenburgisches Staatsorchester, and has also appeared as a guest conductor with many leading orchestras all over the world. Griffiths has a broad repertoire, with about 100 CD recordings with various labels (including Warner, Universal, cpo, Sony and Koch).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_Griffiths_(conductor)

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