Jadassohn 4 on cpo

[Alan Howe]

I have news from cpo that they will be bringing out Jadassohn's Symphony No.4 in a performance by the Nordwestdeutsche Philharmonie under Israel Yinon. No release date has been set, but the piece is so good it'll be worth the wait.

[Black]

The WDR has broadcast this recording in july of this year. It is indeed a pleasant, romantic symphony written in the Mendelssohn-Raff tradition.

[Gareth Vaughan]

I couldn't agree more. Jadassohn's 4th is, IMHO, the best of his symphonies. I suggested last year to Herr Schmilgun at CPO that he consider recording Jadassohn's symphonies, so I am very encouraged to hear that No. 4 is being released. Do you know with what it is coupled? No. 4 is a biggish work, but there should be room for more music on the CD.

[Alan Howe]

I am currently trying to find out what the coupling might be. More news anon - I hope!

[Alan Howe]

The reply went like this:

"There are only four symphonies, so that we will record a second CD with the remaining symphonies."

Whether this means two CDs, each with two symphonies, or a second CD with symphonies 1-3, I don't know.

[Gareth Vaughan]

Hardly illuminatimg, is it? I expect it will be 2 symphonies per disk. Anyhow, jolly good news, however they arrange it.

[Alan Howe]

Quite, Gareth. It's great news that all the symphonies are going to appear.

No.4 is quite something: big and powerful stuff. Old-fashioned for 1888? Certainly - but not stuffy, unlike Prout! The lineage is from Mendelssohn and Schumann, but no more so than with, say, Reinecke.

[Alan Howe]

The latest news is that there will be two CDs, each with two symphonies.

[Alan Howe]

Having listened again to what we have of the radio broadcast of J4, I'm going to hazard that its appearance on CD will be one of the symphonic highlights of 2010 - if it comes out next year!!