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