Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 2 in B flat major, Op. 52 'Lobgesang'

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No rival version is better and few are as good...for a fresh, immediate statement that compels one's attention from start to finish, I cannot imagine anyone being disappointed by this new release — Gramophone Magazine, May 2013 More…

Release Date: 28th Jan 2013
Catalogue No: CC72543
Label: Challenge Classics
Series: Jan Willem de Vriend Mendelssohn Symphonies
Length: 62 minutes

Gramophone Magazine

May 2013

Editor's Choice

Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 2 in B flat major, Op. 52 'Lobgesang'

Work length1:02:25

$22.00

$30.80

$38.50

Consensus Vocalis, Judith van Wanroij (soloist), Patrick Henckens (soloist), Machteld Baumans (soloist)
The Netherlands Symphony Orchestra
Jan Willem de Vriend

Maestoso con moto - Allegro

Track length12:07

$2.00

$2.80

$3.50

Allegretto un poco agitato

Track length5:49

$1.00

$1.40

$1.75

Adagio religioso

Track length6:09

$1.00

$1.40

$1.75

Allegro moderato maestoso - Animato

Track length1:37

$1.00

$1.40

$1.75

Allegro di molto

Track length2:46

$1.00

$1.40

$1.75

Molto più moderato ma con fuoco

Track length2:08

$1.00

$1.40

$1.75

Recitativo

Track length0:52

$1.00

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$1.75

Allegro moderato

Track length1:59

$1.00

$1.40

$1.75

A tempo moderato

Track length1:47

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$1.75

Andante

Track length4:40

$1.00

$1.40

$1.75

Allegro un poco agitato

Track length2:05

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Allegro assai agitato

Track length0:39

$1.00

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Tempo I, moderato

Track length1:33

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$1.75

Die Nacht ist vergangen!

Track length0:13

$1.00

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$1.75

Allegro maestoso e molto vivace

Track length4:03

$1.00

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$1.75

Andante con moto

Track length1:35

$1.00

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$1.75

Un poco più animato

Track length2:26

$1.00

$1.40

$1.75

Andante sostenuto assai

Track length4:28

$1.00

$1.40

$1.75

Allegro non troppo

Track length1:56

$1.00

$1.40

$1.75

Più vivace

Track length2:56

$1.00

$1.40

$1.75

Maestoso como I

Track length0:37

$1.00

$1.40

$1.75

About
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About

Following their acclaimed cycle of the Beethoven symphonies for Challenge Classics, conductor Jan Willem de Vriend and the Netherlands Symphony Orchestra are now recording the five symphonies of Felix Mendelssohn, beginning with one of the least well-known, the Symphony No. 2 ‘Hymn of Praise’.

The symphonies will be released on hybrid SACDs and the performances will incorporate instrumental techniques from Mendelssohn’s own time. The fingerings and bowings for the edition employed here are by Ferdinand David, a friend of the composer and concertmaster of the Gewandhaus Orchestra.

"Mendelssohn’s Lobgesang is undoubtedly the greatest work that has proceeded from any German composer since Beethoven. It is great in plan, great in development, and masterly in detail." [From: Annual report - Sacred Harmonic Society London (1844)]. That the symphony was forgotten, despite such reviews, was largely due to unfavourable comparisons with Beethoven’s Ninth, and the large vocal portion of the work. But de Vriend and his orchestra believe fully in its qualities and give an insightful performance which could well lead to its revaluation.

Artistic director of Combattimento Consort Amsterdam, Jan Willem de Vriend has, since 2006, also been the chief conductor and artistic director of the Netherlands Symphony Orchestra. De Vriend has been a guest conductor with the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, the Netherlands Radio Chamber Philharmonic, the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, The Hague Philharmonic and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra.

Reviews

May 2013

No rival version is better and few are as good...for a fresh, immediate statement that compels one's attention from start to finish, I cannot imagine anyone being disappointed by this new release

6th May 2013

de Vriend paces the various sections of the finale shrewdly. I particularly appreciate the energy he brings to the music, even when the tempo is not fast; there is no stuffiness or sentimentality about this. This symphony may not consistently display Mendelssohn at his best but this performance is a successful launch for de Vriend’s cycle.

10th February 2013

Two highly sympathetic soprano soloists (Judith van Wanroij and Machteld Baumans) and the warm chorales and clean fugal entries of the Consensus Vocalis choir make a persuasive argument for Jan Willem de Vriend's recording of "Lobgesang".

Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 2 in B flat major, Op. 52 'Lobgesang'

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