Heinrich Hofmann: Frithjof Symphony and Hungarian Suite

[Mark Thomas]

That really whets my appetite. I'm looking forward to my copy arriving. I don't know the Overture and Suite - what are they like?

[Alan Howe]

I only listened to the symphony this afternoon. More news anon...

[Mark Thomas]

I've been listening to my copy this afternoon. I won't repeat Alan's assessment of Frithjof or the orchestra - he's spot on. What did strike me about the work wasn't just Hofmann's indebtedness to Raff in the expansive, joyous first movement in particular, but also just how Wagnerian the second, slow, movement, sounds. Those sonorities come right out of the opening pages of Rheingold to my ears. This isn't great music by a first division Unsung like Raff, to be sure, but it is a very enjoyable piece of work, worthy of an occasional outing. It's easy to see why it was so popular in its day and also why it didn't outlive Hofmann. The Overture and Hungarian Suite are written in a similar, consciously crowd-pleasing, vein and they're worth having, but Frithjof is the headline act without a doubt. Another winner from Sterling.

[Peter1953]

With increasing pleasure I've listened several times last week to the Frithjof Symphony (1874). The four movements of this programme symphony form a cohesive unity, so to speak. The Allegro is a very vivid, joyous and melodious opening movement. But how striking, if I didn't know better I could have sworn it was composed by no one less than Raff. The wonderful Adagio, Ingeborg's Klage (Ingeborg's lament), is reminiscent of what I think is the most beautiful piece of music Von Herzogenberg has ever written: the slow movement (Penelope) of his Odysseus Symphony (1872). The Intermezzo is something like a dialogue between two contrasting themes, Lichtelfen (Elves of Light) and Reifriesen (Frost giants). The final movement, Frithjof's Rückkehr (Frithjof returns)  is glorious, although the least interesting of the movements.
The other two works, Eine Schauspiels Overtüre and the Ungarische Suite are delightful as well, which makes this a desirable Sterling CD. BTW, excellent booklet notes by Christopher Fifield.
Warmly recommended!

[JimL]

We have another performance archived here in the forum, do we not?

[eschiss1]

Yes, fortunately a different performance.

[Mark Thomas]

There's absolutely no comparison between the old Swiss Radio performance under Hans Vogt which I uploaded in poor sound and the performance on the new Sterling CD. The latter is spirited and convincing, whereas the former is OK enough to get to know the music, but no more.

[Alan Howe]

Agreed. The older recording did its job and can now be pensioned off.

[Alan Howe]

A generally appreciative review has been posted at MusicWeb:
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2012/Dec12/Hofmann_symphony_CDS10972.htm
Pity the influence of Raff isn't understood...

[Mark Thomas]

Quite, although Rob Barnett is no slouch on the Raff front. He's usually an enthusiastic advocate.

[Alan Howe]

It's just that the influences of Mendelssohn, Schumann and Wagner are acknowledged, but that of Raff is missed completely. Barnett may be sympathetic to Raff, but he still doesn't understand his stature in the 1870s. He needs to read the biography...