Too lengthy, but irresistible

[bulleid_pacific]

OK, I admit it: I just can't help myself. I find some unsung pieces of music irresistible, even though I know they're too long. An example? Rheinberger's 53-minute long Florentiner Sinfonie (that's longer than any of Brahms' symphonies). Its first movement features a rising figure that is repeated again and again in different guises, but oh the flood of melody and the gorgeous orchestration - heaving cello lines, solemn brass. I'm in seventh heaven. Too long? Of course. But what scenery...
Then, as it if that weren't enough, there's a gloriously lyrical slow movement to lose yourself in, followed by the dreamiest of menuettos suggesting, according to the composer's wife, a slow carriage journey out of the city of Florence to a high-lying church from where the city could be viewed beneath them. Then there's a jolly, boisterous finale which just sweeps you along - again too long, but I can forgive the composer anything because there's always some lovely tune to carry you along or some marvellous passage of orchestral writing to entertain you. Too lengthy? Sure, but I can't help myself...

Has anyone a candidate in this category (one or two per person, please, preferably with reasons)?

Well after that eulogy, I felt an immediate urge to order a used copy from the US.  Sounds like just the sort of indulgent wallow I adore - and Rheinberger is a gem of an Unsung anyway.  Not many months pass without an outing for the first Organ Concerto (though that is less Unsung than most of his output......)

[Alan Howe]

I do hope my enthusiasm results in a 'conversion' - not that it sounds like you need too much persuading to acquire some more Rheinberger (for me, one of the great unsung craftsman-composers). Do let us know your opinion of the piece when it arrives...

[chill319]

When performed by Chailly, Mendelssohn's Symphony 2 is an unbroken pleasure for me, even though the last part has too many numbers to be fully coherent.

[M. Yaskovsky]

Raff Symphony nr.1 - short on melodic material, finale problem.
Rubinstein Symphony #2 - Ocean, 7 movement version - some problems.

[petershott@btinternet.com]

M.Yaskovsky - short on reasons / explanations - clear problems!

And with all respect to you!

[eschiss1]

erm... could one -try- to give reasons (even if slight and brief and perpendicular to reason-reasons- this is music, not math, and the reasonableness of math is -- overrated by people outside the... never mind) - both for the irresistible and the too lengthy parts- in this person's honest opinion?... better chance to draw others to one's corner that way. (Of course, Dag Henrik Esrum-Hellerup's piano concerto played by Joyce Hatto is neat even if also too full of longueurs but does tend to bring one back... oh, shut up, Eric.)

[Alan Howe]

The previous points are entirely proper and relevant; in fact they restate our constant mantra here at UC, namely that an explanation of the reason(s) behind the opinion presented is the most interesting part of of a post.
So, with the greatest of respect, please tell us not merely what you think, but why you think it!