Heinrich Sutermeister: Orchestral Works, Volume One
Heinrich Sutermeister (1910–95) belongs to the generation of Swiss composers after Bloch, Honegger, Martin and Schoeck. His operatic version of Romeo and Juliet soon spread his reputation far afield, and conductors as prominent as Böhm, Karajan and Sawallisch championed his works. Although his star has waned in the quarter-century since his death, the four orchestral works recorded here – ranging from the dramatic essay he drew from that first Shakespearean operatic success, via the easy-going charm of two lighter suites, to his deeply felt response to the Swiss landscape – bring a salutary reminder of why his music appeals so directly to its audiences.
Mit Deutschem Kommentar
Bruno Cathomas, speaker (8–13)
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Duncan Riddell, leader
Rainer Held, conductor
Listen To This Recording:
-
Romeo and Juliet: Symphonic Suite for Large Orchestra (1940)
- Fanfares summon the Guests to a Feast at the Capulets: Presto vivace
- Music of the Feast: Più mosso
- Juliet dances with Paris: Andante con grazia
- Climax of the Masked Ball: Allegro molto
- Sarabande: Andante molto sostenuto
- Fairy Mab: Presto grazioso
- Finale: Adagio
- I O du verklärte Welt von Bergen, Felsen, Seen
- II Dort senkt ein kahler Berg
- III Ein junger Schäfer stimmt indessen seine Leier
- IV Der Blumen zarten Schnee
- V Wenn durch die schwüle Luft
- VI Seht, hier, wo Gotthards Haupt die Wolken übersteiget
- I Le château: Moderato festivo
- II Au parc: Andante espressivo
- III Les vendanges: Vivo
- IV Clair de lune sur le lac: Molto lento
- V Le port: Vivo
- I Mosso, grazioso
- II Adagio espressivo
- III Vivo con spirito
- IV Prestissimo
Die Alpen: Fantasy on Swiss Folksongs for Orchestra and Speaker (1946-48)
Aubade pour Morges (1978-79)
Divertimento No. 2 (1959-60)
FIRST RECORDINGS
MusicWeb International :
‘His individual movements [in symphonic suite for large orchestra], which flow seamlessly one into the other, are generally shorter than Prokofiev’s [Romeo and Juliet], but the sense of atmosphere is palpable and so remarkably is Sutermeister’s ability to craft memorable melodic phrases. […]
The fact that this is advertised as the first volume of an ongoing series is cause for rejoicing. So too is the fact that the disc is so generously packed – the longest conventional CD that I have ever encountered. I found no difficulty in playing it, although others may find their machines reacting differently. But the recorded sound is magnificent, […]; the booklet, with notes and biographies in English and German, is substantial and informative; and the playing and conducting is generally of excellent quality. […] Those for whom Sutermeister is just a name (if that) should certainly investigate further.’
—Paul Corfield Godfrey, MusicWeb International
Critic’s Circle :
‘The Divertimento No 2 (1959-60) and suite Aubade pour Morgues (1978-9) are both delightful, and delightfully performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra under Rainer Held. […] The result is music which is sonically appealing (Sutermeister was a fine orchestrator) without any courting of the banal, nor yet attempt at gravity.
[…]it is very nicely rendered here, in beautifully engineered sound by the late Richard Scott, who died of cancer last year.’
—Guy Rickards, Critic’s Circle
Swiss Music Newspaper :
The melodrama recorded here The Alps. Fantasy on Swiss folk songs for orchestra and narrator was written for a radio production. What sounds “old-fashioned” at first glance, like pathos from home, turns out to be an impressive play of colors for orchestra that is hardly inferior to Richard Strauss’ Alpine Symphony. Bruno Cathomas recites the powerful nature poem by the author Albrecht von Haller (1708-1777) with pleasant simplicity.
Vivid and dramaturgically gripping is the Romeo and Juliet Suite for large orchestra, with which Sutermeister followed on from the great success of his opera in Dresden. The premiere of the suite took place on April 9, 1941 in Winterthur, with Karl Böhm and the Berlin Philharmonic.’
—Sibylle Ehrismann, Swiss Music Newspaper
Opera Lounge :
‘Durchgängig ausgezeichnet in allen Werken die orchestrale Begleitung durch das Royal Philharmonic Orchestra unter Rainer Held, was durch eine vorbildliche Klangqualität unterstrichen wird. Von daher bleibt, an Freunde einer sehr gemäßigten klassischen Moderne gerichtet, nichts anderes übrig, als eine Empfehlung auszusprechen.’
English translation:
‘The orchestral accompaniment by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra under Rainer Held is consistently excellent in all works, underscored by exemplary sound quality. Therefore, for fans of very moderate classical modernism, there is nothing left to do but offer a recommendation.’
—Daniel Hauser, Opera Lounge