Spohr: Symphonies Nos. 7 & 9

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The performances, like the pieces themselves, are a shade laid-back, but their lack of urgency never seriously detracts from the attractive qualities of this music. — BBC Music Magazine, May 2012, 4 out of 5 stars More…

Release Date: 27th Feb 2012
Catalogue No: CDA67939
Label: Hyperion
Series: Howard Shelley Spohr Symphonies
Length: 69 minutes

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Spohr: Symphony No 9 in B minor 'The Seasons', Op 143

Work length30:16

$6.60

$9.00

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Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana
Howard Shelley

Part 1 No 1. Winter. Allegro maestoso

Track length9:27

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$1.50

$2.05

Part 1 No 2. Transition to Spring. L'istesso tempo

Track length0:47

$1.10

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Part 1 No 3. Spring. Moderato – Presto – Moderato

Track length6:22

$1.10

$1.50

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Part 2 No 1. Summer. Largo

Track length6:48

$1.10

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$2.05

Part 2 No 2. Introduction to Autumn. Allegro vivace

Track length0:38

$1.10

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$2.05

Part 2 No 3. Autumn. L'istesso tempo

Track length6:14

$1.10

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Spohr: Symphony No. 7 in C major, Op. 121 'The Earthly and Divine in Human Life'

Work length32:24

$3.30

$4.50

$6.15

Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana
Howard Shelley

I. The world of childhood. Introduzione: Adagio – Allegretto

Track length10:41

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$2.05

II. The age of passion: Larghetto – Allegro moderato

Track length10:42

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III. Final victory of the divine: Presto – Adagio

Track length11:01

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Spohr: Introduzione in D major, WoO5

Work length0:51

$1.10

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$2.05

Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana
Howard Shelley

Spohr: Festmarsch in D major, WoO3

Work length5:27

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$1.50

$2.05

Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana
Howard Shelley

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We talk of the nine symphonies of Beethoven and Bruckner but what about the ten of Spohr? Howard Shelley and the Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana conclude their survey of his symphonies with two that push the boundaries of the genre itself. Both Nos 7 and 9 are programmatic works, something that Spohr along with Berlioz did much to champion. In the Seventh, titled ‘The earthly and divine in human life’ and inspired by a holiday in Switzerland, he uses not one but two orchestras to great colouristic effect. His Ninth explores that perennial favourite theme of composers from Vivaldi to Glazunov, the Seasons (though Spohr starts with winter rather than spring). As if that were not enough, Howard Shelley also offers the premiere recordings of a brief, powerful Introduzione and a triumphant, at times almost Rossini-ish, Festmarsch.

Reviews

May 2012

The performances, like the pieces themselves, are a shade laid-back, but their lack of urgency never seriously detracts from the attractive qualities of this music.

May 2012

[Shelley] is at his most sympathetic in Autumn, at home in its atmosphere of hunting and social camaraderie

1st March 2012

The music itself is pleasant enough, if unremarkable, sometimes echoing Beethoven (the Pastoral Symphony especially in the Ninth), and showing affinities with Mendelssohn and Schumann elsewhere; the performances are first rate, and the solo horn playing is glorious.

Spohr: Symphonies Nos. 7 & 9

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