Villa-Lobos 6

I was motivated to move to a symphony from a country I hadn't blogged so far, and realised that I have covered much of Europe (though not, so far, Spain and Sweden for example). So Brazil seemed a good choice. I don't recall every hearing any of Villa-Lobos's symphonies before and this one was not invidual and interesting enough apart from the beautiful slow movement. I think I should return to some of the others. I don't think the symphonies are the most famous of his works and I failed to find a video clip.

 

Vorisek Symphony in D

A convenient radio choice and good to remember there are other symphonies from this period than those of Haydn and Mozart. However, I can't say, apart from the pleasant scherzo, it made a great impression on me. I know I have heard it before, but couldn't recall much about it. Maybe Haydn and Mozart are the most famous for good reasons. 

 

Schnittke 9

Schnittke's last symphony was left uncompleted at his death and there will always be arguments about its authenticity. Unlike Mahler 10, also completed posthumously by other hands, this symphony is not a masterpiece. The first impression is how romantic it is and it certainly lacks the angst and despair of other late Schnittke symphonies. I can't object to its completion as it is worth hearing, but it doesn't feel like the genuine thing to me.

 

Britten "Sinfonia da Requiem"

Britten did not compose his symphonies in any conventional sense and this work is probably is closest to the idea of a "normal symphony." I have no less than three recordings of it (mainly because I wanted the couplings) but I still listened to this on the radio. Written in the memory of his parents  it is a deeply felt and moving work. (And commissioned by the Japanese government not long before the Second World war; probably best for Britten that the Japanese withdrew the commission as they didn't like the Christian references). Along with the Cello Symphony and the suite "A Time There Was", I think it is finest of Britten's purely orchestral works. 

Shostakovich 5

Apparently the most-performed 20th century symphony after Sibelius 2. Which may be also part of the reason I have now heard this symphony live 3 times in 20 months by 3 different orchestras in 3 different cities. And, of the three performances, I enjoyed this one, by the BBC Phil and Vasiliy Sinaisky, the most. Notably I totally followed the sonata of the first movement - and how very turbulent the development is. I also realised how much Shostakovich's writing at this time affected his move to the more intimate medium of the string quartet.
Shostakovich called this symphony: "a Soviet artist's response to just criticism." I would call it a magnificent and ambiguous work. The slow movement and the climax are utterly chilling, rather than any expression of "socialist realism." 

Pärt 1

Listening to the opening of the first movement of Arvo Pärt's first symphony, it is hard to recognise him as the composer of the third symphony or some of his later works. This is definitely a more conventionally "modern" work and pehaps all the better for that. I doubt if Pärt has been a person to compromise in his life, music or religion and I must respect him for that. The movement becomes more obviously influenced by Shostakovich and less noticeably original, but this is music to engage and, for me, to enjoy. The second movement is more clearly atonal, certainly at its opening and represents a tougher, exciting listen.

Haydn 23

Kindly chosen by Radio 3 without me making any conscious decision. It would be very easy to complete this blog just by listening to short Haydn symphonies. Another pleasant, well-crafted work which didn't really leave a great impression on me. Probably it would be largely forgotten if it wasn't for all the great symphonies which Haydn wrote later.

 

Sibelius 5

Back to the mainstream, or at least one of the greatest symphonies of the 20th century. And it's difficult to blog other than to say this work is wonderful and impresses me more and more each time I listen to it. Interesting how, as I grow older, I prefer Sibelius so much more to Mahler and what he could do with a symphony.
I heard this work in concert 30 years ago. An odd concert with the second half featuring Lutoslawski conducting his cello concerto (Sian Edwards conducted the Sibelius).
I must hear it live again. 

Copland 2 "Short Symphony"

Again an ipod inspired choice, but I have to say an excellent one. Looking back from 80 years perspective it is difficult to see Copland's music as being that modernist as it was often characterised at the time. I doubt if it was that radically modern even at the time if you compare it to Bartok and the Second Viennese school (or even Vaughan Williams fourth).
The Short Symphony is a good, small piece of music particularly the Stravinskyan opening. Maybe it is more modernist than Copland's ballets of the 1940's but it seems mainly neo-classical and tuneful to me.