Sigismund von Neukomm: Grande Sinfoie Heroique & 3 Fantasies
Die Kolner Akademie
Michael Alexander Willens, conductor
CPO
Sigismund von Neukomm was a student of both Michael and Franz Joseph
Haydn. He helped with the production of some of Mozart's late
compositions, and worked with Haydn on the editing and arranging of
Haydn's music. At one point, he even taught Mozart's son composition. As
one might expect, his musical style shares many similarities to those
of his famous colleagues.
The earliest fantasy on this disc dates from 1806, the second 1808, and
the latest from 1823 -- but there's little difference in style between
them. All have a light, transparent sound of Mozart and Haydn. Neukomm's
music is very clean and precise, with everything laid out and organized
in a sensible fashion. Neukomm's melodies aren't quite as memorable as
Mozart's but they do have the same natural flow and charming simplicity
to them.
By contrast, the Grande Sinfomie heroique has a bigger feel than
the fantasies on this disc. The orchestration is more varied, and the
drama's heightened. If the other three works were comparable to middle
period Haydn, then this would be more early Beethoven and late Mozart.
The work never loses its sense of balance and proportion (so think of a
very polite Beethoven), but it has greater energy than the orchestral
fantasies.
Michael Willens directs with a light touch, and you can hear subtle
inflections in the phrasing bring this music even closer to the
Mozartian ideal. Highly recommended for any fan of the classcical era.
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