Felix Woyrsch’ First Symphony in Spain

[Ilja]

It turns out that in 2021 and 2022, Woyrsch' first* symphony in C minor was played no fewer than four times in Spain; twice by the Orquesta de Extremadura under Charles Olivieri-Munroe, and twice by the Orquesta Sinfónica de RTVE (Spanish Public Broadcasting) under Miguel Ángel Gómez Martinez, who also recorded the work for CD in the 1990s. Gómez Martinez obviously believes in the symphony, and his latest recording can be seen and heard on YouTube.

This seems to be a marked improvement on Gómez Martinez' MDG recording. The orchestra's better, the conductor's (slightly) more expansive approach works really well and the sound image lacks the sharpness that marred the earlier recording.

*which was in fact his second, and I still have some hope CPO may have recorded the "real" first.

[terry martyn]

Not being a particular fan of late-Romantic music, I have been in two minds about this symphony.  So,I've listened. And it's heavy.

[Ilja]

It is dense, but it has good tunes, the textures are still pretty transparent and the orchestration is not nearly as saturated as, say, most of Joseph Marx' stuff.

This is Woyrsch' most Brahmsian symphony that I know. After this he develops a more individual and increasingly more sparse style, quite unlike anyone else.

[eschiss1]

I gather cpo has also recorded this symphony for release soonish?, and if the recording on MDG is subpar, hopefully their new recording may be an improvement. (Hopefully!) I've listened to at least part of the cpo recordings of symphonies 2 and 3 with enjoyment, as I recall...

[Ilja]

I wouldn't want to present the MDG recording as "sub-par", but it is on the rough side in some aspects. I'll inquire which symphonies cpo has recorded, since the "First" can refer to either the C minor (usually calle the first) or the earlier, unpublished (but extant) B flat major symphony. The more so since we know Walter Zielke (who provided earlier Woyrsch scores for CPO) worked on it.

[eschiss1]

I think this was already answered as being the C minor in another thread (... or somewhere else), I'll try to find it, but I could be mistaken. Even if I'm right, that doesn't mean symphony no.0 is -not- set for recording.

[eschiss1]

This post by - erm - you, actually - from 2024 - suggests the numbered first is scheduled for recording: here.

[Ilja]

Ah I see, misrembered that. Still, I'm curious whether the earlier symphony has been recorded in the meantime. And when this is set to be released of course.

[Ilja]

I got a reply from Andreas Dreibrodt from the Pfohl-Woyrsch Gesellschaft, who wrote that the recording of symphonies 1 and 6 is to be released next April. They intend to continue the series, but no further recordings have been made sofar. However, the Violin Concerto (or Skaldische Rhapsodie) and the unnumbered symphony in B flat major are next on the list, with the recording of the concerto already planned. That CD should also include a movement originally intended for Symphony No. 1 but later retracted. Finally, there are plans for a performance (and recording) of Woyrsch' Totentanz, his largest work.

[eschiss1]

I was sort of hoping #0 was in B-flat minor as previously reported, but B-flat major's a fine key/mode-pair. Looking forward to, of course. (Or should I say, with Bes wishes? ... no, I should -not-.)

[Ilja]

My mistake. It's B flat minor.

[eschiss1]

Ah, thanks. Do you know if the "zero" symphony has been or will (per current plan anyway) be published in some printed form?

[Ilja]

The Gesellschaft will not do so, but my guess would be that Walter Zielke will publish the work through his company Albis Music (the website of which seems to be largely inactive at the moment).

[eschiss1]

He has, since I have not said so, done yeoman's work for Woyrsch, Thieriot and others of course...

[emi122]

the cover of cpo new release soon