Emilie Mayer - Symphonies Nos. 1 and 2

[eschiss1]

Btw I hope the Minnesota Sinfonia reschedules their planned performance of her first symphony from March to later this year if possible!

[Alan Howe]

The new cpo recording is now available for purchase from jpc:
https://www.jpc.de/jpcng/cpo/detail/-/art/emilie-mayer-symphonien-nr-1-2/hnum/8992791

[eschiss1]

Latest Records International, too.

[sdtom]

I just received a digital file of the CPO recording and it is a fine one although I have nothing to compare it with. Someone said to me she is a female Beethoven which I don't think so. She has her own unique style.

[Hector]

A female Beethoven? Given the extant portraits I can't imagine that would be a pretty.

[hyperdanny]

I'm not PC-obsessed, but still....if we where talking about a male composer, I don't think that "prettiness", or the lack of it, would ever be a matter of discussion, for sure not above of before musical value.
it's true that Mayer gets this stale female-Beethoven label for I believe commercial reasons, but we're not selling cd's, we buy them and discuss them...we should know better, especially considering the tremendous stature and individuality of her music.

[Hector]

1. It was a joke at Beethoven's expense not Mayer's.
2. It satirises the pointlessness of the comparison to Beethoven - for the reasons explained above!
3. It contains an accidental 'a'.
4. I may well acquire the Mayer Cd.

[Gareth Vaughan]

I certainly took it as such, Hector - and it gave me a chuckle. Beethoven was also known to be rather a dirty man and is said to have told one young lady who complained to him of his unwashed appearance: "When I am famous and wealthy, no one will care." One would hope that Emile Mayer's personal hygiene was everything that should be expected of a young lady of the period.

[Mark Thomas]

And with that, let us return from the finer points of 19th century toilette to music.

[Kevin]

I'm intrigued by Mayer I would like to know if this double CD is worth getting: https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8495695--mayer-symphony-no-4

[dhibbard]

I found that CD on Amazon also a while back esp. the Piano Concerto??   any thoughts??

[Alan Howe]

For that CD, please refer to this thread:
http://www.unsungcomposers.com/forum/index.php/topic,6950.0.html

[Kevin]

I was disappointed in this release. The symphonies never struck me as being individual enough, of course that's to be expected for a composers first attempt, still it doesn't make for pleasant listening experience. They sound melodically too similar to Schumann as well, blandly orchestrated to boot. I actually feel bad I didn't enjoy them more because I was looking forward to them. Maybe it's just me. (the performance is good, I've got no other reference to go by though)

[dhibbard]

hmm...  interesting I had the same thought... I had to look again at my CD player to assure I was not listening to Schumann or others.   

[Alan Howe]

I think the comparison of Mayer's first two symphonies with Schumann is unfair to Mayer. These are evidently early attempts at the form; her later symphonies, e.g. nos. 4 and 7, are rather more striking.