These important proto-romantic symphonies have just been released by Kapella 19:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00QWQQ7VW/ref=dm_cd_album_lnk (http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00QWQQ7VW/ref=dm_cd_album_lnk)
My goodness, this is a fine disc. It's a HIP production, but it really works. The symphonies themselves are a true eye-opener as to what was happening beyond Beethoven in the early years of the 19th century. The template, I suppose, is Haydn, but Méhul pushes and prods it into something grander, more daring and closer to Beethoven.
This article about Symphony No.4 (from 1810 - i.e. written between Beethoven's 6th and 7th) says it all:
http://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/nov/08/etienne-mehul-lost-fourth-symphony (http://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/nov/08/etienne-mehul-lost-fourth-symphony)
Does anyone know how these performances compare with those of the Orchestra of the Gulbenkian Foundation under Michel Swierczewski on Nimbus, released in 1992? That was a set of the "complete" symphones 1-4, together with some overtures. It did not, however, include the remaining movt. of the incomplete 5th symphony, recorded on this disk.
Thanks for the recommendation, Alan. I can only echo it. Méhul's last three symphonies, and particularly No.4 and the one extant movement of No.5, are muscular, vigorous music. Stylistically they are still more in touch with their late 18th century roots than are Beethoven's' contemporary symphonies, but they also clearly display a real romantic spirit. I was reminded of his fellow Parisian Anton Reicha's symphonies from the same era, but from what I remember of them they are "busier", and don't have quite the same individuality and power that Méhul demonstrates in all three of these works.
OK... now I'm confused. If symphony 4 was rediscovered and second-performed in 2010, what exactly was "symphony no.4" on the 1992 CD set? Will this new CD set be the world premiere recording of the real/complete/something 4th symphony?
Wikipedia says this:
The Symphonies nos.3 and 4 were only rediscovered by Charlton in 1979. Interviewed 8 November 2010 on the on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Professor Charlton said that Méhul's 4th Symphony was the first ever to employ the cyclical principle.
QuoteDoes anyone know how these performances compare with those of the Orchestra of the Gulbenkian Foundation under Michel Swierczewski on Nimbus, released in 1992?
I'll do some listening, Gareth.
I don't see the problem, Eric - or am I missing something? If Mr Charlton rediscovered the Symphony No. 4 in 1979, why shouldn't it have been performed and recorded in 1992? The Guardian article to which Alan provides a link above only says it took 31 years since its rediscovery for it to be performed in London.
Ah. I misread, sorry. I read it as saying that the 2010 performance was its 2nd ever, after its premiere performance(s).
(Was it definitely performed in London in the early 19th century?)
To answer Gareth's question as to how the new CD compares with Swierczewski on Nimbus: it is vastly superior. The first thing one notices is the greater range of dynamics and the exciting way in which the brass roar through the orchestral texture. It makes the Nimbus seem very mild indeed. All we need now is Symphonies 1 and 2 from Kapella 19. In short, the new CD is an absolute 100% must-buy. It's thrilling in every way.
Thanks very much, Alan. That's very useful - and rather what I suspected might be the case.
Have always found the first symphony thrilling (on the radio- and especially its finale!...) even in the 1992 recording so I hope to hear this recording, and that it promises a new and excellent recording of his first two symphonies :)
Thanks!
Having done some more listening, I must say that this CD is absolutely thrilling. I can't recommend it highly enough.
This is one of six CDs I am trying to collect,but I am foxed by the label´s website as it appears on Google. i simply cannot get into it,in order to order it. I am obviously being cackhanded, but I wondered whether any of you could help to correct my technological failings.
There's an (expensive-ish) copy available here:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00QWQQ7VW/ref=dm_cd_album_lnk
Otherwise, I'd say the CD was deleted.
I saw that this morning,Alan, but they won´t deliver to Spain. I have in the past couple of months purchased both recorded Study Symphonies of Enescu,the (barely adequate) CD of Francetti´s,Vol 9 of Lumbye´s music (duplicating the delectable Dream Pictures I have on LP), that recently-mentioned Dutch Flute Concerto set,and all the recorded cello works of Nikolaus Kraft, so I was on a roll. But I will just have to wait in patience for those remaining six!
As to performances of symphony no.4, apparently according to this (PDF) (https://oaeblog.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/mehul-symphony-no-4.pdf) (hosted at the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment Blog) the -revised- version may indeed have been premiered in the 20th century after it was reconstructed from the somewhat conflicting parts and given its first 20th-century performance in 1981, as described at the link (which also describe the ways in which it uses cyclic form. Whether it's the first work to do so, I may doubt, though the way Méhul quotes the first movement's slow introduction inside the finale of his 4th, as described by the author of the blog post, is rather more subtle than Boccherini in his Casa del Diavolo symphony, e.g.)
Quote from: Alan Howe on Sunday 06 March 2022, 14:29
There's an (expensive-ish) copy available here:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00QWQQ7VW/ref=dm_cd_album_lnk
Otherwise, I'd say the CD was deleted.
Terry Martyn inquired about the cd, but if a download will do, it's available from Apple Music here (https://music.apple.com/us/album/m%C3%A9hul-symphonien-nr-3-4-und-5-unvollendete/950360047)
at the time, I bought it directly via Kapella19's website (still there?) , at a perfectly normal price........
There's no facility to buy the physical CD from Kapella19 - merely a link to the download at Amazon.de
I am sure you're right, but it must be a successive development.
Since memory can be faulty, I feared I was spreading falso info, so I did a little search in my archives and I still have the kapella19.de email from Feb 2017: I actually bought the physical cd from them, 21EUR shipping included, paid through bank transfer.
I have the CD too. It's pretty clear that it's now been deleted.
Sadly,Alan, I think you are right, but thanks for your assistance!
Around the end of last week I downloaded the album (from Amazon) and only realised AFTER I opened the ZIP file that it didn't include the booklet. I contacted Mr Juteau, the conductor, via the e-mail contact given on the Kapella 19 web-site, and he very kindly supplied me with a copy.
Hoping to listen later this week once the builders (and their noise) have departed the premises!!
Cheers
Richard
Is it possible to have that email link,Richard,please?
Here's the link:
http://www.kapella19.de/crbst_17_en.html
Thanks! I have sent an email to the conductor.
Terry,
Just a courtesy reply to 'ack' your msg as I see Alan's reply has worked out OK.
Cheers
Richard
PS The notes are by (IIRC) that well-known doyen of CPO authority, Bert Hagels
Hagels, btw, does deserve thanks, I think, for also preparing full scores and parts sets (for publication by Ries & Erler) of works which haven't been published at all or published and existing -only- in parts, many later recorded by cpo... (Wilms , Ries (2005 publication of the 7th symphony) and Kalliwoda symphonies, e.g., maybe Kramar also - his website has interesting notes about a number of those works. ) (Including, I think, poss. the first edition of Rott's first symphony? Not sure.)
Thanks,Richard
I have been very lucky, as the conductor has a handful of CDs left to purchase, and I have just bought one !!
QuoteI have been very lucky, as the conductor has a handful of CDs left to purchase, and I have just bought one !!
I did the same. Mr Juteau answered immediately, I made a bank transfer and got one copy of the CD for me and one for a friend.
Very good! I like a happy ending!
Pleased to report that my CD arrived yesterday and I have just played it through. M.Juteau conjures up joyous playing from his orchestra and this is a very worthwhile recording of music on the cusp of Romanticism. I believe that there are still a few CDs available from the conductor and,if you are interested in discovering what French symphonies were being composed in the years before Onslow, I would urge you to contact M.Juteau before his handful of available CDs runs out.
I got my CD a couple of days after I'd ordered them. Mr Juteau told me that I was lucky to have one of his very last copies. So, hurry up! I know he also played Mehul's No. 2 (see https://youtu.be/95DQIAPiOgE) back in 2009. Alas no recording was made.