Message #22450

[relm1]

I purchased the set and received it a few days ago.  I thought I would write up my thoughts on the works in case others are contemplating exploring this music further.

I thoroughly enjoyed traversing this music.  The sound is a mixture of central European composers of the twentieth century such as Enescu, Martinu, Honegger, Tubin, Bartok with a splash of Mahler and Shostakovich.  Fans of 20th century symphonies will find these are terrific names to be compared to.  The recordings are quite good considering the age range. 
Symphony No. 1, reminds me of Martinu - especially his earlier works.  This is exciting music and it is full of youthful vigor but not particularly memorable.  This recording is in mono but still high quality given its 50 year age.

Symphony No. 2 is quite a bit darker and more like Honegger’s No. 3 (Symphonie Liturgigue).  The adagio reminds me of the adagio from Shostakovich Symphony No. 15.  Overall, this is a terse symphony.  Last two movements feature lots of punctuated staccatos and agitated melodies.  My favorite movement is the second (the adagio).  The last movement has a melody that reminds me somewhat of Mahler’s early symphonies (the melody could feel at home in Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 first movement – the horn theme).  There is an effective and unrelenting buildup of momentum.  There is a militaristic quality to the last movement that sounds like the buildup of Honegger’s No. 3 which I adore.  About half way through the last movement, it becomes a dirge for strings that builds up powerfully to a climax somewhat reminiscent of Shostakovich No. 6 last bars.

No. 3 is a recent recording dating 2013.  Some of the nice qualities of this one is the wind solos that reminded me somewhat of Sibelius’s Symphony No. 6.  But to be blunt, that comparison also demonstrates how great a symphonist Sibelius was.  It is not that this music isn’t good but that the comparisons are inevitably better. 

The Symphony No. 4 is very well recorded (from 2012).  This symphony is quite conservative.  This work reminds me somewhat of Brahms’s first symphony and some Tchaikovsky as well.  It seems to me to be slightly repetitive but I enjoyed the conclusion of the first movement. 

No. 5 has a sweeping opening and much in common with Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov’s early works with some Scriabin ecstasy mixed in.  This is a large scale work lasting about 45 minutes.  The recording is from 1964 so don’t expect state of the art audio.  I really enjoyed the second movement (andantino) finding it very inventive.  The third movement is colorful and engaging.  The fourth is triumphant and has a Scriabinesque quality.  The work as a whole is very satisfying.  This might be the strongest symphony of the set.  It really is a very good symphony and would be glad to have a state of the art recording such as what Ondine/Lintu did with Enescu Symphonies.

No. 6 is lush and romantic.  Tchaikovsky meets Scriabin.  Also some nice dramatic climaxes.  Probably reminds me of Janis Ivanovs Symphony No. 5 or mid-century soviet music (Eshpai).  The Allegretto has some moments that remind me of Gliere’s Symphony No. 3 (the forest murmurs sequence of the adagio).  These are long lined melodies.  Very finely written and imaginative.    The Adagio is quite lovely with its trio for two flutes and harp. 

Symphony No. 7 is very well recorded (dating from 2013) and has some Wagnerian fate music in it that contrasts with forest music (bird song?) and is full of color and heavy drama.  The slow movement (adagio) also has some elements of Respighi (modal and bird calls).  There are quotes of Brahms No. 1 and a huge statement of the "death theme" as it returns in the last movement near the end of the symphony as a climactic coda.  A very exciting work with a somewhat sad and quiet coda.

No. 8 is an epic scale lasting over 50 minutes.  This work has qualities of Tchaikovsky, Shostakovich, Mahler, and Bruckner (especially in the scherzo).  The opening movement has a real Mahler No. 1 opening feel (and some of the wunderhorn).  It is also very brassy and builds to an impressive and passionate climax.

These are epic symphonies in the grand tradition and are full of drama with high energy.  I believe he has his own sound while having a debt to Brahms, Tchaikovsky, and Mahler.  If the symphonies of Martinu, Honegger, Tubin, Janis Ivanovs, and Shostakovich resonate with you, you will find much to enjoy here.  They are tonal, well crafted, and progress well one to the next.  In listening to this whole set back to back, I felt that some of the music could use a bit more empty space.  For example, Weinberg is a bit too sparse.  Sibelius is probably just right (for my tastes).  My favorites are No. 5, No. 6, and No. 8 followed by no. 2 but the whole set is quite good and worth the price.