Richard Stöhr: Solo and Chamber Music for Organ
Like Korngold, Toch, Schoenberg, Zeisl and Zemlinsky, Richard Stöhr (1874–1967) was one of many Austrian composers driven into American exile by the Nazis. His generous output of music, being rediscovered at last in these Toccata Classics recordings, includes seven symphonies, much chamber music, songs, and choral and piano pieces. His output for organ is not extensive, but its quality is high: the instrument plays an important role in a number of Stöhr’s orchestral works, and here Stöhr presents the organ in two thoroughly attractive duos and an imposing solo sonata. The Sonata and Intermezzi sit downstream from Brahms in the tradition of Viennese classicism; the chromatic touches in the later Suite lean towards the language of Korngold.
Jan Lehtola, organ
Anna-Leena Haikola, violin
Annikka Konttori-Gustafsson, piano
First recordings
Listen To This Recording:
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Suite for Organ and Violin, Op. 102 (1944)
- I Grave
- II Butterfly and Flower
- III Allegro giusto
- No. 1 Andante con moto
- No. 2 Poco presto
- No. 3 Allegro molto
- No. 4 Poco adagio
- No. 5 Vivace
- I Allegro con brio
- II Andantino pastorale
- III Finale: Allegro vivace
Five Intermezzi for Piano and Organ, Op. 35 (1913)
Organ Sonata in D minor, Op. 33 (1914)
Fanfare :
‘Jan Lehtola makes the best possible case for the work and its discmates, as do violinist Anna-Leena Haikola and pianist Annikka Konttori-Gustafsson to the pieces they play. Stöhr’s music has struck a major chord with me, and I would love to hear more of his music.’
—Fanfare
Organists Review :
‘For many years Stöhr’s legacy has lived on through the work of his pupils, Barber and Bernstein. But this fifth disc from Toccata, suggests that the other four are worth investigating too: the music is masterfully crafted and imaginative, and even if it belongs to a rather dense school of composition, the performers here deliver it with sensitivity and loveliness.’
—Barnaby Page, Organists Review
YLE :
‘Jan Lehtola on varsinainen työmyyrä, joka kerta toisensa jälkeen jaksaa kaivaa esiin harvemmin taltioitua äänistöä. Lopputulos kantaa tälläkin kertaa.’
English translation:
‘Jan Lehtola is a real workhorse, who time and again manages to dig up rarely recorded sounds. The end result is worth it this time too.’
—Aki Yli-Salomäki, YLE