Franz Schubert - Complete Overtures, Vol. 2 (Christian Benda)

Information

Composer: Franz Schubert

1. Overture in D Major, D. 556
2. Overture in D Major, D. 590, "im italienischen Stile"
3. Overture in C Major, D. 591, "im italienischen Stile"
4. Die Zauberharfe, D. 644: Overture, "Rosamunde"
5. Die Zwillingsbruder, D. 647: Overture
6. Overture in E Minor, D. 648
7. Alfonso und Estrella, D. 732: Overture, "Rosamunde"
8. Die Verschworenen (Der hausliche Krieg), D. 787: Overture
9. Fierabras, D. 796: Overture

Prague Sinfonia

Christian Benda, conductor

Date: 2009

Label: Naxos

https://www.naxos.com/catalogue/item.asp?item_code=8.570329

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Review

You may feel drawn to this disc out of a sense of duty. You know that you ought to know more of Schubert’s overtures than the so-called “Rosamunde” or the Overtures in the Italian Style. So you put this disc on – and are immediately transported with a sense of sheer delight. What is more, this continues throughout the disc as one engaging work follows another. At the end you pour yourself another cup of Earl Grey and start again. Well, at least that was my experience.

 

You may know all of these early works already and have scores or good recordings of them, in which case none of this will come as a surprise. For those who do not, let me explain that the nine overtures on this disc are all relatively early works written for a variety of purposes. Some are for operas or plays, some are concert works, and the last was probably written for a Cantata in honour of the Chief Inspector of Elementary Schools, a man also in charge of the fund for teachers’ widows. Despite that it is a very engaging piece. The notes by Keith Anderson helpfully explain the origins of each Overture, but I doubt whether you would be able to distinguish which is which without those notes. They are however unfailingly attractive, most with slow introductions followed by sonata-form movements. If you enjoy Schubert’s first three Symphonies, you will certainly enjoy these pieces which are very much in a similar vein and with similar virtues, especially in respect of the very characteristic scoring. Over and over again the listener will find themselves delighted by a turn of phrase, an unexpected harmony or deft orchestration.

 

Although clearly this is essentially down to the composer, much of the pleasure of the disc is also due to the bright but affectionate performances by the Prague Sinfonia, an expanded version of the Prague Chamber Orchestra. Christian Benda comes from a very distinguished family of Czech musicians and directs performances that are just right for these pieces, avoiding on the one hand blandness and on the other excessive point making. The recording quality is clear and full.

 

You will have gathered by now that I have had considerable pleasure from this disc. Completeness can be a mixed blessing, but on this occasion I am very glad that Naxos have decided to do this in respect of a category as unexpected as Schubert’s Overtures.

 

-- John Sheppard, MusicWeb International

More reviews:
https://www.naxos.com/reviews/reviewslist.asp?catalogueid=8.570328&languageid=EN

https://www.amazon.com/Schubert-Complete-Overtures-Vol-1/dp/B001LKLKPC

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Franz Schubert (31 January 1797 – 19 November 1828) was an Austrian composer who was extremely prolific during his short lifetime. His output consists of over six hundred secular vocal works (mainly Lieder), seven complete symphonies, sacred music, operas, incidental music and a large body of chamber and piano music. Today, Schubert is ranked among the greatest composers of the late Classical era and early Romantic era and is one of the most frequently performed composers of the early nineteenth century. His music is characterized by pleasing tunes while still has "a great wealth of technical finesse".

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

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Christian Benda is a Czech cellist, composer and conductor, descended from the eighteenth-century Benda family of composers. He performs worldwide both as a soloist and a conductor. His numerous recordings include many classical standards (notably, particularly distinguished performances of Boccherini cello sonatas, with his brother accompanying on the fortepiano, for the Naxos label) as well as the compositions of his ancestors Georg Anton (Jiří Antonín) Benda, František Benda and Jan Jiří Benda. He serves as chief Conductor and artistic director of the Prague Sinfonia.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Benda
https://www.christianbenda.com/

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