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Site review by Polly Nomial August 18, 2006
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Performance: Sonics (MC): |
At this point I am tempted to disregard the guidance given by Zeus at the top of the web page as we write reviews; this disc doesn't really need anything more than a one-liner - it is so good and enjoyable that I immediately went online and got the earlier installment (Stamitz/Richter: Early String Symphonies - New Dutch Academy/Murphy) of this ongoing series and I am now waiting impatiently for future releases.
This disc comprises four string symphonies, three by Franz Xaver Richter and the other (which opens the disc) by Johann Stamitz. Presented chronologically, these cover the period 1750-1755 and moves on from the earlier disc which looked at the music that these composers took to Mannheim to the way their style matured as they encamped at the musical Mecca of their time.
All symphonies have three movements which have faster outer movements that enclose a slower (but nothing genuinely slow) middle movement. Simon Murphy manages to pace these movements perfectly so that dance movements have a nice swing to them whilst giving the music space to breathe. His encouragement to The Chamber Orchestra of The New Dutch Academy (what a lengthy title!) ensures that the material is phrased in a natural but captivating manner that keeps the interest of the listener without needing to resort to gimmicks. The quality of the playing leads one to think (after the time as well) that this is the only way to play this music.
This is a remarkably good recording from a technical standpoint and one which I shall be using in future to demonstrate to those who doubt that "period" ensembles can ever sound nice. There is a wonderful sheen that is present here that few other recordings have managed to produce.
Highly recommended for fans of this period and those who want to find out what Haydn inherited as a musical starting point.
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Copyright © 2006 John Broggio and SA-CD.net
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