Raff on Chandos

[raffite33]

I had emailed Chandos on an unrelated topic, and, after they replied, I said thanks and asked if there was any chance they'd be continuing the Raff symphonies with another conductor.  I was ecstatic to get the following reply:

"Raff will be contiunued with Neeme Jarvi in Estonia. Starting later this year,
Kind Regards
The Chandos Team"

[raffite33]

...and I now see from the ERSO website that they're performing the 10th Symphony, 'Zur Herbstzeit,' in late November, so I'm guessing we can expect that to be recorded.

The 10th is my second favorite, after the mighty 5th, of course.

[Ilja]

It seems likely that they'll combine it with the 11th, which was performed in May. And which, despite all its faults, happens to be my favorite.

Thank you for passing on this encouraging message.

[Mark Thomas]

News, but hugely welcome news, to me! What a pleasant surprise.

[Alan Howe]

Remember this?
https://www.unsungcomposers.com/forum/index.php/topic,9504.msg100073.html#msg100073

My guess would be Nos.10 & 11 too.

[Gareth Vaughan]

This is very welcome news indeed. I would especially love to hear Jaarvi's take on No. 3. But certainly 10 and 11 will, I am sure, be a delight.

[FBerwald]

This is wonderful news.

[Jonathan]

Excellent news!

[Alan Howe]

My only caveat would be to hope that Järvi doesn't overdo his tendency to take things too speedily, as he does (IMHO) at the beginning of the 5th Symphony where articulation is on the verge of breaking down.

[raffite33]

Oh yes, Alan, the tempo is all wrong.  My teeth being grinding at the very thought of it.  The "Lenore" is my favorite symphony, and I've been collecting CD versions for 46 years.  We're up to 7 now, but I find them all flawed in one way or another.

Who, I wonder could give us the ultimate Raff 5th?  Honeck/Pittsburg on Reference?  Paavo Jarvi/Tonhalle on Alpha?  Maybe a dark horse choice would be Janowski/Dresden Philharmonic on Pentatone?

[FBerwald]

I'm sure I am in the minority that believes that Järvi's tempo for the beginning of No. 5 was spot on. The frenzied almost feverish speed set an eerie tone.

[Mark Thomas]

You're right, fast and frenzied is what Raff wants - he's describing a fevered nightmare. Most interpretations are too slow and once Järvi settles down to what is still a fast tempo he's really convincing, but the first few bars are just so quick that his string ensemble is close to collapse. 

[Alan Howe]

Yes, Mark identifies the issue here. If I may make a comparison: I find that there is a similar problem with the second movement of Mendelssohn's 3rd in some modern performances which sacrifice clean articulation in the pursuit of speed. In Raff, as well as in Mendelssohn, there has to be elegance (and accuracy) as well as fleetness of foot.

[Mark Thomas]

Welcome though a pairing of Nos.10 and 11 will be, we sorely need good, intelligent interpretations of the Spring and Summer symphonies, both fine works but neither of which have fulfilled their promise in the recordings we've had so far.

[Justin]

Are you referring to just commercial recordings, Mark? I remember we all had good things to say about the 2023 radio performance of the 10th symphony by the Jenaer Philharmonic.