ERICH WOLFGANG KORNGOLD

Returning to the Chandos catalogue, in brand new contemporary packaging

Gramophone critic’s choice on first release

Released in the 50th anniversary year of Korngold’s death

?One of a collection of four Korngold titles released in July

Digitally re-mastered at 24-bit

Scored for large forces – the rare Symphony in F Sharp major is a work of real imaginative power and ranks alongside the major symphonic works of Mahler and Bruckner; with a powerful and deeply felt slow movement of grandiose character. Coupled with the exquisite yet, rarely performed Lieder des Abschieds a cycle of four orchestral songs are much earlier and completed in 1920; clearly influenced by Strauss, Mahler and Zemlinsky and performed here with the persuasive soloist, Linda Finnie. Conducted by Edward Downes, the BBC Philharmonic performs with enthusiasm and sensitivity.

These are richly inventive and brilliantly scored works, sadly neglected but making a welcome return, and for the first time on Chandos Classics.

"The Symphony is a work of real imaginative power... the orchestra is used with resource and flari. The BBC Philharmonic play with enthusiasm and sensitivity for Sir Edward Downes... Linda Finnie is a persuasive soloist [Abeschiedslieder]  and the balance is eminently well judged. The Chandos sound is wide-ranging."

The Penguin Guide - 1000 Greatest Classical Recordings 2011-12

<p>&quot;The <em>Symphony </em>is a work of real imaginative power... the orchestra is used with resource and flari. The BBC Philharmonic play with enthusiasm and sensitivity for Sir Edward Downes... Linda Finnie is a persuasive soloist [<em>Abeschiedslieder</em>]&nbsp; and the balance is eminently well judged. The Chandos sound is wide-ranging.&quot;</p> <p><strong>The Penguin Guide - 1000 Greatest Classical Recordings 2011-12<br /> </strong></p>

Quotes from original release:
Korngold’s lush orchestration needs sound with a full bloom, and the Chandos engineers provide that in spades.
…sincere championship and fine playing of the BBC Philharmonic
It [Abschieds] is sung with great sympathy and full tone by Linda Finnie, while Downes and the Chandos engineers do a fine job colouring the orchestra. He richly evocative third song, ‘Mond so gehst du Wieder auf’, is worth the price of the disc.
The first volume to be made, featuring the rich voice of Linda Finnie in the Lieder der Abschieds together with the late Symphony in F sharp, was in the sure hands of Edward Downes, the later three under the equally incisive baton of Matthias Bamert.
Downes’s insightful reading (and the BBC Philharmonic’s impeccable playing) is all that the discerning Korngold collector could wish for, especially when coupled with Linda Finnie’s rapt and majestic account of the Lieder des Abschieds cycle.


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