Beethoven Orchester Bonn, Stefan Blunier - Strauss: Präludium, Op. 61 / Schmidt: Symphony No. 2 (2017)

Richard Strauss' dramatic Festival Prelude for organ and orchestra opens this 2017 MDG audiophile release, though the major work on the program is the Symphony No. 2 in E flat major of Franz Schmidt, the longest of his four symphonies and in many ways the most challenging to perform. The two works were written in 1913, and the celebratory mood of the Strauss piece, which was composed for the dedication of the Vienna Konzerthaus, adequately sets the stage for Schmidt's cheerful symphony. Listeners well acquainted with Strauss' post-Romantic style will find much of his influence in the latter work, both in terms of the lavish orchestration and the elaborate, multi-layered writing. Schmidt clearly absorbed Strauss' tone poems, and echoes of Don Juan, Ein Heldenleben, and Also sprach Zarathustra can be detected throughout the Symphony No. 2. However, despite its massive orchestra and some apocalyptic climaxes that are overblown, even by Straussian standards, there is no extra-musical program or weighty symbolism involved. Instead, this ebullient symphony is surprisingly modest in its aims as absolute music, and Schmidt's personality shines through in the sunny, pastoral melodies and bright scoring. The live performances by Stefan Blunier and the Beethoven Orchester Bonn were recorded in May 2016 using MDG's unprocessed DSD reproduction, and because the recording has a wide dynamic range, some adjustment of the volume levels may be necessary. Highly recommended.