Henk Badings Symphonies 2, 7, 12
Roy A. Blokker | Salinas, CA United States | 04/07/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Relatively unknown, Dutch composer Henk Badings produced a fine ouvre -- these three symphonies demonstrate the range of his talent and thinking. Filled with that intense energy common to the great works of the 20th Century, Badings is definitely modern in his approach and loved to make the orchestra clash and bang, but with strong melodic foundation. In his second symphony from 1932 we hear ideas that American William Schuman used seven years later, and throughout the disc we find passages that recall themes used in motion picture scores decades later. In other words, Badings was inovative, modern, immediately approachable and compelling. Not for everyone's taste. but anyone interested in modern symphonic music or in classical music might want to give this disc a try. The quality of the recording is very sharp and clear, and the Janacek Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of guest Dutch conductor Cavid Porceleijn obviously have come to a deep and warm understanbding of the composer."