Woldemar Bargiel: Complete Orchestral Music, Volume One
Woldemar Bargiel (1828-97) was one of the best-known composers of his day, an important teacher and Clara Schumann's half-brother, but his music has been largely forgotten. His only symphony has a Beethovenian drive, and his three published orchestral overtures, which are symphonic poems in all but name, lie downstream from Schumann, with a Brahmsian weight and power.
Siberian Symphony Orchestra, Dmitry Vasilyev
Listen To This Recording:
-
Symphony in C major, Op. 30 (1864)
- I Allegro energico
- II Andante con moto
- III Menuett
- IV Allegro molto
- Overture to a Tragedy, Op. 18 (1856)
- Overture to Prometheus, Op. 16 (1852; rev. 1854, 1859)
- Overture to Medea, Op. 22 (c. 1861)
WTJU, University of Virginia :
“Music talent definitely ran in the family. Woldemar Bargiel wasn’t just a well-respected composer. He was also the half-brother of Clara Wieck Schumann, a pianist and composer of no mean ability herself. Woldemar also won the respect of her husband Robert. He also worked closely with Brahms, co-editing editions of works by Chopin and Schumann. … Bargiel’s symphony is a well-crafted work, delivering on the drama and heightened emotions that dominated the Romantic aesthetic. And Bargiel carefully devlops his motifs, bringing them through to logical and satisfying conclusions. The remainder of the release features concert overtures, the genre that Bargiel was best known for. In these short works, Bargiel uses dramatic contrasts between instrumental groups to keep things moving. It’s easy to understand why they were popular. Bargiel delivers one tuneful episode after, catching up the listener in the excitement of the moment (well, at least this listener). The Siberian Symphony Orchestra have a clean and balanced sound, and Dmitry Vasilyev should be given credit for directing performances that bring out the best in this music.”
—Ralph Graves, WTJU, University of Virginia
MusicWeb International :
‘The performances are well beyond serviceable – I very much doubt we are likely to get another recording of these works soon, but it would take one of the top orchestras to make much more of this music.
The booklet is written by Dean Cáceres, who has written a biography of Bargiel, and hence provides comprehensive and informative notes. The sound quality is excellent, the delicate orchestral colours well defined and the climaxes imposing.’
—David Barker, MusicWeb International
Modern Music Review :
‘The Siberian Symphony Orchestra under Dmitry Vasilyev gives us quite credible and dynamic readings of the works. […] This style, you could say, was as much his as theirs. The uniqueness of each work takes some time to discern but it is generally there, nothing radical or eccentric mind you, but the music holds its own after repeated listenings. […]
There is nothing second-rate about any of these works. […]
This new release provides us with a clear snapshot of his first flourishing, with all works presented in their premiere recordings. It will be fascinating to those especially keen on the era but nevertheless also will give the classical-listening generalist music worth hearing for itself. In that I do not hesitate to recommend the disk for those who welcome new music from this period. It does not disappoint.’
—Grego Applegate Edwards, Modern Music Review