Pleyel: Symphony in C major, Ben. 128, etc.

Tom Moore

March / April 2001

“I have had a favorable opinion of Ignace Pleyel's gifts as a composer since making the acquaintance of his flute quartets Ben 387 389 (originally published 1798), and find it surprising that his charming and well-made music is not more widely performed. Rita Benton's catalog of his work is a real monument, given the fecundity of the composer and the plethora of editions of his work during his life. The man produced at least 41 symphonies, of which few are recorded as yet (Richard Burke reviewed a recent set from Bamert on Chandos in 21:1). The three presented here are early works, dating from 1778 (Ben 121) and 1786 (Ben 128 and 138). "Pleyel shows a particular aptitude for the beautiful cantabile melody, so much so that it is surprising that he was not drawn to the stage. The slow movement of 128 is lovely, with some adventurous harmonic shifts. The symphony closes with a fizzing Italian rondo. Though 138 in the minor (or at least its outer movements), it would not be entirely accurate to described them as Sturm and Drang - these are light clouds flitting by, not existential thunderheads. Ben 121 begins with a minor introduction, but the 3/4 movement that follows is pompous and romantic, with rushing scales and punctuation from the trumpets. This is probably the strongest of the three works. ...The performances of the Capella Istropolitana are fleet and assured.”

“Symphonies by a largely unknown Haydn pupil who, on this distinctive evidence, deserves far wider currency.”