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I have now listened to this CD several times and totally agree with the comments made by Alan and Mark regarding the description and quality of the music. A superb CD, Dutton are to be congratulated! I will be returning to this music often!

Reading this thread, prompted me to get out my copy of the CD of symphonies 1 + 3. I bought it quite some time ago and only played it once or twice, not greatly taken with the music at the time. This time though, I was pleasantly surprised! I liked the music a lot, lovely melodies(yes, I can hear influences of other composers but all the same, Merikanto also has his own voice) and nicely orchestrated. Because of this, I am definitely going to purchase the new CD, especially if symphony no 2 is like symphony no 1 but even better!

My copy of the CD is on its way to me. In view of all the comments made about the music, I am really looking forward to listening to it.

My copy of the CD is on its way to me. I am looking forward to listening to it.

Reading this thread reminded me also to have another listen to the symphony. A fine work. Thanks for the reminder.

I also thank you Mathias for the upload which I am listening to as I type this thread - very, very enjoyable!

I would like to nominate the the 3-part finale of Braga Santos's symphony no 4. The Lento/Allegro/Epilogue(Hymn to Youth)finale is both exciting and in the epilogue moving and uplifting. Its big tune is also memorable. I too could easily have nominated the finales of both Kalinnikov symphonies, both wonderful symphonies and not just for their finales! I come back to them repeatedly.

It's been  very interesting reading this thread. I am a confirmed Bruckner admirer and no 8 is my favourite Bruckner ( I have some 8 versions in my collection but no Tintner). In view of the very positive comments about the Simone Young original version,  this is a must-buy for me! Now on order!

Great news - pity though that we will have to wait some time for the CD to become available. The wait will be worth it!

I downloaded the CD a few days ago. Since then, I have listened to it some 7 or 8 times already and I must say, I have been most pleasantly surprised. Symphony no 2, although liked, was never one of my out and out favourite Raff symphonies but now, it has become exactly that : one of my favourite Raff symphonies, thanks to Järvi's splendid interpretation! The sound is much better than the Stadlmair, the orchestration is more vivid and the faster tempo of the second movement sounds exactly right! The 4 overtures are also wonderful. I am really looking forward to seeing what symphony Järvi next tackles (if I were to choose, I would opt for either Im Walde or Lenore as there is always room for a new and hopefully excellent interpretation)!

I too have just read Tra's post on Facebook. I too would like to say what wonderful news! 3 more CD's means 3 more must-buys!

Alberto, you beat me to it! I had already posted re- the Rabaud symphony in the New Recordings thread, and was thinking that I would nominate this symphony as my discovery of the year when I read your post. I must say that this symphony made a striking impression on me!

I haven't as yet received my copy of the Cd but hope that I won't be too disappointed if the violin playing leaves something to be desired.

 I too am eagerly awaiting the arrival of my copy of the CD.  The sound bites on Jpc convinced me that this CD was, for me, a must buy.

I have just listened again to symphony no 2 and I must say that I am very, very impressed by the music. I was expecting the music to sound a little bit like St-Saëns,  Massenet (one of Rabaud's teachers), D'Indy and Wagner and I was not surprised. I was though surprised to hear music that had a touch of Beethoven to it, especially in the first movement : the Beethoven-like fanfares that recur throughout the first movement are striking and the contrast between the dramatic and the lyrical is very well maintained. The almost hymn-like Andante of the second movement has an almost serene grandeur about it and the music is both tender and soothing. The third movement Scherzo is deftly scored and is very bright and joyous. The finale, Allegro/Andante/Largo, at times anguished and dramatic , followed by passages of calm and lyric beauty, effectively ends the symphony in radiant light. I was not surprised to read that the symphony, in its time, won the Prix Monbinne, awarded by the Académie des Beaux-Arts. I have already spoken about the Procession Nocturne earlier in this thread but will say again that this piece is beautiful. The Eglogue, which closes the CD is a delightful work, even though it is just 5:11 in duration. The liner notes suggest that Rabaud may have had Debussy's Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune in mind, when composing this piece. I can see what he means and  I quote "Rabaud's sinuous oboe melody responds to Debussy's flute". The two pieces clearly complement each other well. This CD is well worth buying and I know I will return to it often.