Search - Hermann Goetz, Werner Andreas Albert, Hannover Radio Symphony Orchestra :: Hermann Goetz: Symphony in F, Opus 9; Violin Concerto, Op. 22; Der Widerspenstigen Zähmung

A winner all around

Evan Wilson | Cambridge, MA | 10/17/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Hermann Goetz had the great misfortune to die young. If this disc is any indication, had he lived longer he might have made a name for himself. As it is, we have a disc of memorable music from the early 1870's which whets one's appetite for more.The symphony is a genial piece, containing a pastoral intermezzo with a horncall that presages Mahler and a lovely trio; an attractive lyric adagio; and a finale that echoes Schumann in his more unbuttoned moods. The opening movement isn't quite as memorable, but I think the average concertgoer would find this a wonderful discovery.The Violin Concerto has the same sort of sweet lyricism one finds in Bruch. Goetz doesn't indulge in major acrobatics and the piece is relatively short, which could, perhaps, explain its neglect. The quality of the music certainly doesn't. The overture to The Taming of the Shrew which rounds out the program maintains the same high standards.Goetz certainly isn't a composer who tries to storm the heavens. Instead, he writes tuneful, Romantic music which fits comfotably with composers like Bruch and Joachim Raff. All these masters do NOT deserve obscurity and make pleasing alternatives to the usual overplayed warhorses. All of which is to say, get this disc! I'm sure you will be pleased. The performers dig into the music with a sense of discovery and energy and the sound is up to CPO's high standards."

An excellent introduction to a composer who "might have been

David Arenson | 11/05/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Hermann Goetz died at 36, and based upon this sampling of his music he likely would have evolved into a better-known composer had he lived longer. These works give us hints of a distinctive musical personality, definitely the efforts of a young man with potential.



The symphony opens with an allegro that has pastoral overtones -- I can almost hear the bird calls -- reminiscent in spots of Joachim Raff's "Im Walde" symphony (though this is not a program work like the Raff and has its roots in the more traditional school of Mendelssohn and Schumann.)



The second and third movements stand out: The second makes playful use of horn calls and has been called a precursor to Mahler, no less. The third is an adagio, at times quietly beautiful, at times passionately yearning in an almost Brahmsian way. The first reviewer accurately describes the finale as Schumannesque, and it is certainly a fitting conclusion, if perhaps just a little less inspired than the two movements that precede it.



The one-movement violin concerto, which is perhaps more of a fantasy for violin and orchestra than a concerto, is a tender and lovely work. If you like Bruch, you'll like this.



The zippy, well-crafted overture provides a bit of dessert after the earlier courses. Unfortunately, it only boosts the total CD time to 56 minutes, which is not exactly generous for a full-price CD, and which is why I have deducted a star. As is typical with CPO, the recorded sound is fine and the liner notes extensive.



Overall, this disc is recommended without hesitation to those who enjoy music of the Romantic era, and who are seeking to discover enjoyable works by lesser-known composers. Goetz is one of the finest of the unsung composers and these works do not deserve to be neglected.



Note: Amazon lists the title of this CD as "Symphony No. 9" but it is actually Symphony in F, Opus 9. Quite a difference!"