Jenő Hubay - Petőfi Symphony

[Alan Howe]

Part of the problem is the absolutely dreadful singing of the soloists. I'm allergic to slow vibrato, as you may have gathered and the bass featured here just spoils everything he sings. Recordings of Mahler 8 often suffer from the same problem, but that is at least great music.

[Mark Thomas]

I do agree, although for me the soprano's vibrato is the main drawback. That said, I find it easier than you do to "listen through" singing deficiencies, although Im not sure that's anything to be proud of

[Ilja]

Agree with Mark; the first movement is the weakest of the four, but luckily it's also the shortest.

The work as a whole I would describe as something hovering between an oratorio and a short opera. Part of the explanation for that peculiar form may be that at the time in the 20s and 30s, Hubay was mainly active as a composer of opera. His operas The Mask and Anna Karenina were fairly successful, and the latter was re-staged in Bern in 2014. Trailer (YouTube) here.