Raff/Järvi Chandos vol. 2 - Symphony 5 etc.

[jasthill]

I found it here:
http://classique.abeillemusique.com/SACD-Hybride/Classique/CHSA5135/0095115513521/Chandos-Records/Joachim-Raff/Oeuvres-orchestrales-Volume-2/cleart-79870.html

[Alan Howe]

Thanks. Looks like a March release - contents as follows:

Symphony No.5, Op.177 Lenore
Overtures:  Dame Kobold; König Alfred; Die Eifersüchtigen
Prelude to Dornröschen
Abends: Rhapsodie, Op.163b
Suisse Romande Orchestra
Neeme Järvi

[Mark Thomas]

Fingers crossed for another eye-opener. Thanks, Jasthill.

[Alan Howe]

Here it is in all its glory at MDT:
http://www.mdt.co.uk/raff-orchestral-works-vol-2-neeme-jarvi-chandos-records-sacd.html

[Gareth Vaughan]

It's certainly a well-filled CD. I hope that doesn't mean there are any cuts - or rushed tempi.

[Alan Howe]

Lenore, I understand, is going to be pretty swift. I think that'll work in the first, third and fourth movements, but I'm nervous about the slow movement, I have to say. Still, Järvi was convincing in the swiftly-taken slow movement of No.2, so...

Anyway, it's on order!

[LateRomantic75]

I felt Jarvi's recording of Symphony no. 2 and the Four Shakespeare Preludes was very convincing-Jarvi's conducting style fits the vim and vigor of Raff's music like a glove. It has been his overall failure to wallow (in a good way) in the lush romanticism of composers like Atterberg that has concerned me most. So, my hopes remain high for this upcoming recording!

[JeremyMHolmes]

It's already available for download via Chandos/TheClassicalShop for those who can't wait for the CD! 

[Gareth Vaughan]

Where? I can't see it.

[Alan Howe]

It's here:
http://www.theclassicalshop.net/Details.aspx?CatalogueNumber=CHAN%205135

[Alan Howe]

Here are some comparative timings:

Herrmann (p.1970)         Stadlmair (p.1999)              Järvi (p.2014)

1.   15:01                              12:40                                 10:29
2.   14:00                              11:53                                   8:04 
3.   12:34                              11:15                                   9:13
4.   14:48                              13:52                                 11:53
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      56:23                              49:40                                 39:39

[Alan Howe]

In listening to the Järvi, I'm reminded of Chailly's recent Beethoven Symphonies cycle. My reaction to both is "that shouldn't work" - but it does, once you accustom yourself to the overall concept. However, the 'Thielemann' inside me wants to wallow a bit more in the lyrical episodes, so, while genuinely appreciating Järvi's thorough spring-clean, I do think there's room for something a little more yielding.

Even more interesting is that Stadlmair, who was once deemed speedy, now seems merely 'moderate', with all the other recorded performances equating, perhaps, to a Giulini-type approach

[FBerwald]

Alan, I so agree with you on this one. This speed seems risky in theory but Järvi pulls it off like Chailly's Beethoven Symphonies and Hough's Tchaikovsky Concerto No. 1 on RPC 50. I am so getting this one. Thank you Järvi for a fresh approach to a forgotten giant!

[Alan Howe]

Another comparison with the way Järvi approaches Raff would be the great pre-war recordings of Brahms' symphonies conducted by Felix Weingartner (now available in much improved sound on Pristine Classical).

[Gareth Vaughan]

Having listened to the soundbites on the Chandos Classical Shop I must admit that the only movement which struck me as too fast was the opening of the 1st - this  did seem rushed to my ears.  All the others seemed to work very well, even (or actually especially) the second. I need to hear the whole work, however, before making a judgement.