Joachim Raff: Orchestral Works Volume 1

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Järvi and his Suisse Romande players seem to be having a whale of a time, or least that's the impression that these extremely vital performances suggest...a perfect place to dip a toe into Raffian... — Gramophone Magazine, April 2013 More…

Release Date: 28th Jan 2013
Catalogue No: CHSA5117
Label: Chandos
Length: 77 minutes

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Raff: Symphony No. 2, Op. 140

Work length33:47

$8.00

$10.35

$14.00

Neeme Järvi, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande
Recorded: 25-27 June 2012
Recording Venue: Victoria Hall, Geneva, Switzerland

I. Allegro

Track length12:37

$3.00

$3.85

$5.25

II. Andante con moto

Track length7:26

$2.00

$2.60

$3.50

III. Allegro vivace

Track length5:31

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

IV. Andante maestoso

Track length8:13

$2.00

$2.60

$3.50

Raff: The Tempest, WoO 49: Orchestral Prelude

Work length14:17

$3.00

$3.85

$5.25

Neeme Järvi, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande
Recorded: 25-27 June 2012
Recording Venue: Victoria Hall, Geneva, Switzerland

Raff: Macbeth, WoO 50: Orchestral Prelude

Work length11:29

$3.00

$3.85

$5.25

Neeme Järvi, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande
Recorded: 25-27 June 2012
Recording Venue: Victoria Hall, Geneva, Switzerland

Raff: Romeo and Juliet, WoO 51: Orchestral Prelude

Work length9:53

$2.00

$2.60

$3.50

Neeme Järvi, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande
Recorded: 25-27 June 2012
Recording Venue: Victoria Hall, Geneva, Switzerland

Raff: Othello, WoO 52: Orchestral Prelude

Work length8:14

$2.00

$2.60

$3.50

Neeme Järvi, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande
Recorded: 25-27 June 2012
Recording Venue: Victoria Hall, Geneva, Switzerland

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This disc marks the beginning of a new series, dedicated to the engaging, albeit neglected, orchestral works of the German-Swiss composer Joachim Raff. The survey starts with Symphony No. 2 and the orchestral preludes to four plays by Shakespeare: The Tempest, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, and Othello, all idiomatically performed by the Orchestre de la Suisse romande, conducted by its new Artistic and Music Director, Neeme Järvi.

Well crafted, with brilliant orchestration and strong melodies, the works of Raff were very highly regarded during his lifetime. In fact, he was one of the most widely performed and influential musicians of his day – some even ranked him with Wagner and Brahms. A highly prolific composer of close to 300 works, he wrote extensively in virtually all forms. Soon after his death, however, his reputation began its descent and his music came to languish in relative obscurity; today his works are largely forgotten.

Composed in 1866, Symphony No. 2 opens with an extended lyrical Allegro. The second movement, Andante con moto, is a wonderfully evocative piece of almost religious intensity. The scherzo, marked Allegro vivace, is the first example in his symphonic œuvre of the debt which Raff owed to Mendelssohn in this type of movement, and the finale, beginning Andante maestoso, then taking off Allegro con spirito, makes a grandiose conclusion.

Thirteen years and close to 150 works separate Symphony No. 2 from the orchestral preludes that Raff composed to four of Shakespeare’s plays. Although not programmatic in any real sense, these overtures are still highly effective in evoking the atmosphere of Shakespeare’s noted creations: In The Tempest, Raff conjures music of great dramatic contrast, while in Macbeth he evokes a truly dark and menacing sound world, portraying the three witches with particular effectiveness. The tender love theme of Romeo and Juliet perfectly complements the powerful depiction of jealousy in Othello.

Reviews

April 2013

Järvi and his Suisse Romande players seem to be having a whale of a time, or least that's the impression that these extremely vital performances suggest...a perfect place to dip a toe into Raffian waters.

21st February 2013

Järvi's fleet performance [of the Symphony] avoids portentousness, but never makes the music seem convincingly memorable. The Four Shakespeare Preludes, concert overtures in effect, are much more interesting...brilliant showpieces, which really ought to be heard more regularly in the concert hall.

Offer,Joachim Raff: Orchestral Works Volume 1

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