Kölner Kammerorchester, Cologne Chamber Orchestra, Christian Ludwig - Robert Fuchs: Serenades Nos. 1-5 (2011-2012)

Tracklist

Robert Fuchs: Serenades Nos. 1, 2
01. Serenade No. 1 in D major, Op. 9: I. Andante
02. Serenade No. 1 in D major, Op. 9: II. Tempo di menuetto
03. Serenade No. 1 in D major, Op. 9: III. Allegro scherzando
04. Serenade No. 1 in D major, Op. 9: IV. Adagio - Con molto espressione
05. Serenade No. 1 in D major, Op. 9: V. Finale. Allegro
06. Serenade No. 2 in C major, Op. 14: I. Allegretto
07. Serenade No. 2 in C major, Op. 14: II. Larghetto
08. Serenade No. 2 in C major, Op. 14: III. Allegro risoluto
09. Serenade No. 2 in C major, Op. 14: IV. Finale. Presto
10. Andante grazioso: Andante grazioso
11. Andante grazioso and Capriccio, Op. 63: Capriccio

After his death in 1927, Robert Fuchs all but vanished from public consciousness. Yet here is a composer who could count Mahler, Wolf and Sibelius among his many talented pupils. This selection of music for string orchestra, written between Fuchs’s late twenties and early fifties, gives us an opportunity to reassess a neglected and influential figure of Austrian Romanticism. Under young German-born conductor Christian Ludwig, the internationally renowned Cologne Chamber Orchestra revives these delightful works with characteristically polished ease.


Robert Fuchs: Serenades Nos. 3, 4 & 5
01. Serenade No. 3 in E minor, Op. 21: I. Romanze: Andante sostenuto
02. Serenade No. 3 in E minor, Op. 21: II. Menuetto
03. Serenade No. 3 in E minor, Op. 21: III. Allegretto grazioso
04. Serenade No. 3 in E minor, Op. 21: IV. Finale alla Zingarese: Allegro con fuoco
05. Serenade No. 4 in G minor, Op. 51: I. Andante sostenuto
06. Serenade No. 4 in G minor, Op. 51: II. Allegretto grazioso
07. Serenade No. 4 in G minor, Op. 51: III. Menuett: Moderato amabile
08. Serenade No. 4 in G minor, Op. 51: IV. Adagio
09. Serenade No. 4 in G minor, Op. 51: V. Finale: Allegro con fuoco
10. Serenade No. 5 in D major, Op. 53: I. Adagio con espressione
11. Serenade No. 5 in D major, Op. 53: II. Allegro grazioso
12. Serenade No. 5 in D major, Op. 53: III. Allegretto amabile
13. Serenade No. 5 in D major, Op. 53: IV. Finale: Allegro vivace

‘A richly endowed composer, selfless teacher, and a rare human being’ proclaims Robert Fuchs’ memorial stone, and this esteem is reflected in his astonishing roster of pupils – Mahler, Sibelius, Wolf and Korngold among them. His own compositions, though, have been overlooked, unaccountably so on the evidence of these lovely Serenades. The Third is quite Brahmsian with a wonderfully bracing Hungarian finale. No. 4 is a highly expressive and richly scored work, whilst No. 5 casts its net yet wider – with anticipations of Mahler, and joyous references to the Vienna of the Strauss family. Serenades Nos. 1 and 2 are available on Naxos 8572222.

DOWNLOAD ALBUM [flac] Nos. 1, 2

DOWNLOAD ALBUM [flac] Nos. 3, 4 & 5