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Indeed. Just because this is a forum focused on promoting "unsung" composers doesn't mean we can demean "sung" composers to the benefit of their "unsung" compatriots. I will stick with my opinion that Tchaikovsky was a genius and Raff was a minor master.

I agree heartily with your Tchaikovsky/Raff comparison. While Raff was obviously a very talented composer, Tchaikovsky was a master through and through. His music grabs me by the throat with its great emotional power, something I can't say Raff's music does for me. So to say Tchaikovsky "plagiarized" Raff is a rather unfair statement IMHO.

Oh, Schmidt! You naughty boy!

Speaking of Schmidt, I recall there being discussed a strong similarity between the cello solos in Schmidt's Fourth Symphony and a symphonic poem (?) by Hans von Bulow. I haven't heard the von Bulow work, though.

Also, the main theme of the jaunty final movement of Atterberg's Sixth bears more than a passing resemblance to the secondary theme from The March to the Scaffold from Berlioz's Symphonie fantastique.

A great discovery of late for me that would fit this thread is Heino Eller's Piano Sonata no. 1, which has been recorded by Antes and recently by Toccata in their series. It's a huge, highly virtuosic late-romantic work which, unsurprisingly, reflects the influence of Rachmaninov but has a certain polyphonic density to it that is absent from the Russian's music. Besides Rach, I was occasionally reminded of Dukas' behemoth work in the genre as well as Reger (in the more contrapuntal sections). Great stuff!

Splendid news! I discovered this lovely work through YouTube and can safely say that it as fine (or perhaps even finer) a work as the composer's freshly invigorating and strongly melodic First Symphony (with which the Third shares many similar characteristics). Any idea what it will be coupled with? The symphony lasts 40 minutes long, so there's ample room for filler works. As for unrecorded orchestral works by Noskowski, I know of the Symphonic Variations on Chopin's Prelude in A, op. 28/7 (subtitled From the Life of a Nation), a Polonaise elegiaque in E minor, and a Marche funebre, op. 53.

Thank you for the info, Gregory, and welcome to the forum! Oh, how I am envious of you, basking in the warm Hawaii sun!

I felt Jarvi's recording of Symphony no. 2 and the Four Shakespeare Preludes was very convincing-Jarvi's conducting style fits the vim and vigor of Raff's music like a glove. It has been his overall failure to wallow (in a good way) in the lush romanticism of composers like Atterberg that has concerned me most. So, my hopes remain high for this upcoming recording!

You are quite correct, Gareth!

Very interesting-I hadn't known Marx had written a piano trio! I love Marx's luscious brand of late-romantic Impressionism (as it were), and have my fingers crossed that CPO will bring out his masterful Herbstsymphonie as well as the still-unrecorded Nordlands-Rapsodie at some point.

Thanks for your response! I'm tempted to go with the ASV recording so as to avoid further duplication with the Ravel and Saint-Saens trios, though...

It's probably my loss that I've largely overlooked Chaminade's music (though I've been intrigued by her choral symphony Les Amazones). Which recording of her piano trio(s) would you recommend?

Thanks for the encouraging replies everyone! I guess it's just the fiery romantic in me that draws me to the more extroverted first and fourth PCs instead of the more introverted middle two. I'll be getting the new Chandos recording when it comes out and hope to experience an epiphany!

I'm afraid I can't muster as much enthusiasm as some have for the second and third PCs. To me, they seem rather "hollow", for lack of a better word. The presiding influence of Chopin in both works doesn't help their substantiality. The First and (especially) Fourth concertos, however, are magnificent works of blazing passion and epic sweep. To be fair, one of the main reasons why I can't really get behind the second and third concertos is because they seem dull in comparison to the surrounding two, quite frankly. Pleasant and occasionally charming works in their own right? Yes. Undeservedly neglected masterworks? No.

But who knows? Maybe the upcoming Chandos recording will change my opinion of them!

My mouth is watering as I type...