This is a release that I for one have long been waiting for: Paul Juon Orchestral Works Vol. 1 Sterling CD 1103-2
It contains the Symphony in A major op. 23 plus Vægtervise (Fantasy on Danish Folk Songs) Op. 31, with the Moscow SO conducted by Christof Escher. It cannot be found on the Sterling website yet, but the Juon Society lists it.
Yes, I understand than we can expect several discs of Paul Juon orchestral works in quick succession from Sterling.
I have just ben told that Vol. 1 will be available in shops and online June.
The Symphony dates from 1903, so it should be fascinating to see what Juon was writing then. Apparently a successful performance of the work was given in Meiningen in 1905, with Fritz Steinbach (1855-1916) conducting the famous orchestra there.
Apparently, there will be several symphonies in the Sterling series.
Good news indeed. Now how about the violin concerti? I simply cannot afford the one and only copy I've seen for sale of the old Sybille Tschopp recording of one of them - and in any case, that's just one; I want 'em all!
I do believe I had seen (via the Juon Society web site) that there was a Naxos orchestral disc in the works, to be recorded in Moscow and released early this year. But the mention is gone now and I've got no further hint anywhere else. And of course no release of the disc. Anybody know anything, or am I merely remembering a fantasy I had? ;D
Also - Amazon US now lists another disc played by pianist Igor Kraevsky, titled Satyre und Nymphen and containing a number of Juon's piano miniatures that have not shown up elsewhere. I ordered a copy an hour ago so no comments to be made just yet, but I'm eagerly waiting!! Here's the US listing:
http://www.amazon.com/Satyre-Und-Nymphen-Paul-Juon/dp/B00J0BBY28/ref=pd_ybh_1 (http://www.amazon.com/Satyre-Und-Nymphen-Paul-Juon/dp/B00J0BBY28/ref=pd_ybh_1)
The next disc to follow on Sterling will be Juon's first symphony, in F sharp.
This is welcome news. I've enjoyed listening to and playing Juon's chamber music for several years - much of it very enjoyable. And can anyone more literate in languages than I am give the proper pronunciation of "Juon"?
I had heard (or seen) "YOU-on" which seems to me to work in either Russian or German.
YOUen (with a 'schwa' sound) is correct. In 1998 there was a programme about Juon on Bavarian radio that was really good, but for some reason they thought the name had to be pronounced as if it was French...
and I see MPH has released e.g. a score of one of the violin concertos, of the Rhapsodic symphony op.95 and of his cello concerto op.45. By my reckoning that can only help things too...
Wheesht - I'm thinking that, once Juon moved 'back' to Vevey and the Swiss more or less adopted him as their own, the presumption of French origin took over. For the longest time that's what I was calling him, until I learned otherwise....
You may well be right as far as French speaking Vevey is concerned, but the family originally came from the canton of Graubünden/Grisons, which is German, Rumantsch and Italian speaking.
Thanks for the news. That will be interesting and I'll buy the CD as soon as possible. You can find the score of the symphony on the imslp site:
Link removed (see next post - MT)
please do not direct-link to PDFs on IMSLP; even if it works (which I doubt) it violates our (the site's) agreement with Universal Edition (for resolving copyright-related issues caused by differing © regimes across the world.), memory-serves anyway (after they hit us with a cease-and-desist order after which IMSLP was down for 2 years or so.) Also, linking to the workpage allows access to any parts, reduced scores, etc. and information about the work, not just the PDF itself.
The seriously preferred link is
Symphony 2, Op.23 (http://imslp.org/wiki/Symphony_No.2,_Op.23_%28Juon,_Paul%29).
(Hrm, he died in 1940. I forgot. Ok, this is more a concern with composers who died 1944 or later - e.g. Medtner, Myaskovsky, Lazzari, Sinigaglia... But in principle , yes. Though of course different links, depending.)
Tenku. :D
Friesner - you can listen to the Juon VC No.2 with Sybillle Tschopp on the Swissinfo website, which I think must be a Swiss governmental website
http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/culture/Swiss_Violin_Concertos.html?cid=31813852 (http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/culture/Swiss_Violin_Concertos.html?cid=31813852)
Here's a teaser at Christof Escher's website:
http://www.christof-escher.com/en/discs.html (http://www.christof-escher.com/en/discs.html)
I understand that the two Sterling CDs will be released in September/October.
(http://www.christof-escher.com/images/media_covers/paul_juon_orchestral_works_vol_1.jpg)
...with apologies for the poor quality image!
Paul Juon Orchestral Works Vol. 1 has been released by Sterling.
You can listen to samples here:
http://www.sterlingcd.com/catalogue/cds1103.html (http://www.sterlingcd.com/catalogue/cds1103.html)
Thanks, ken. My copy is already on order from Sweden...
Oh dear. I don't think this early Symphony in A (it dates from 1903) is going to make many friends for Juon. Its Achilles heel is the first movement which, on first hearing, strikes me as academic, pedantic and not at all attractive. The scherzo which follows has rather leaden boots, but is an improvement, and then come a very appealing, melodic slow movement and a finale with plenty of spirit and impact. The idiom is a rather odd mixture of Brahms (I almost said Reger!) and Tchaikovsky. It is what it is - a rather unimaginative work by a composer who hadn't yet found his true voice.
I'm hoping that even earlier Symphony in F sharp minor (from 1895) will prove more attractive, but I'm not holding my breath...
I have not got the Sterling CD yet, but I remember quite enjoying the symphony performed by Christof Escher in Zurich a few years ago. Mario Venzago will conduct the Bern Symhony orchestra in a performance of this symphony in December. In an interview in their concert programme for this season, he mentions that he and the orchestra have been approached by CPO "to look after Juon a bit" and a first CD is to include the second symphony and the Triple Concerto. It will be interesting, at certainly for me, to be able to compare recordings.
It's hard to imagine anyone doing much with the truly turgid opening movement. IMHO, of course. Much more interesting is the coupling on the CD, Vægtervise (Fantasy on Danish Folk Songs) Op.31. Gorgeous! Perhaps Juon knew that his true talents lay elsewhere...
Just out of curiosity, Alan – where did you get the CD from? I usually buy Sterling from Toccata in Sweden, but the link from the Sterling site to Toccata does not work and Toccata doesn't have the CD listed yet. As you can see, I am still eager to get it - even if it should turn out to be mostly for the coupling.
That's where I got the CD from. I usually email Mr Hoff direct and he then sends me a PayPal link.
Thanks, I'll try contacting him direct.
Has anyone else heard this CD yet?
So far I have only listened to the Symphony's opening movement which, as others have said, is indeed a disconcerting mixture of Tchaikovsky and Brahms. Not in the good way which Taneiev achieved, but in a lumpy episodic structure which, at first hearing, I found devoid of melodic or harmonic interest. Still, three more movements and Vægtervise to go. Nil desperandum.
I have warmed to this CD. Not the Symphony's opening movement, of course, which can't shake off its student pretentiousness and its constant veerings from Brahms to Tchaikovsky as models, but the other three movements, all of which are more consistently Russian in style. The Scherzo could certainly be a bit more fleet of foot, but that could be the interpretation, and its material is attractive enough. The Romanza slow movement is really poetic. It's gorgeously orchestrated and shows all the restraint which the first movement lacked. The Finale teeters on the edge of, but just about avoids, the opening movement's earnestness and settles down to be a vivacious and effective conclusion to this flawed work. The Danish folksong fantasy Vægtervise is a sumptuous wallow, with bags of colour and atmosphere. Lovely. It and the Symphony's final three movements certainly encourage me to hope that successive releases in Sterling's Juon cycle will be rewarding experiences.
I will definitely try to get a listen to the CD- am guessing I will enjoy most of it for my own part, and at least almost all of the rest of the series which I hope Sterling will continue at length... thanks for the reviews :)!
Have been listening to this several times in the past few days. The symphony, alas, is no forgotten masterwork. It's skillfully written to be sure, the orchestration solid - and loud (try the finale). It makes a grand noise, but goes nowhere, and thematically it's weak. As soon as it's over, I forget the tunes. Contrary to the usual defect of lesser symphonies, in this one it's the first movement that's the weakest. I really enjoy Juon's chamber music and was hoping for so much more. Still, bring on vol. 2....
I listened to this CD again this morning and can only conclude that what I wrote earlier (http://www.unsungcomposers.com/forum/index.php/topic,5015.msg55852.html#msg55852) was penned during a fit of uncharacteristic euphoria. This time around my impressions chimed much more with what Martin has written above. The Symphony really is a dull piece of work, and Vægtervise is repetitive and derivative of Tchaikovsky. On the other hand, what I am listening to now (http://www.unsungcomposers.com/forum/index.php/topic,5252.msg56052.html#msg56052) is tremendously impressive.
While I agree with what has been said about the first movement of the Symphony, I do admit to rather liking the rest of the work. Although the Bern concert hall was only about two thirds full last week , the audience certainly reacted very favourably to the spirited performance by Mario Venzago and the Bern Symphony Orchestra. The scherzo made quite an impact (not just on me), as did the slow movement and the finale. I for one am hoping for more Juon concerts by the same forces if and when they happen. Meanwhile I certainly look forward to listening to Vol. II on Sterling.
Hopefully later discs in the series (presumably more consistently of his mature orchestral (and concertante?) works) will make a better general impression than this one seems to have ;)