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Special offer. Carl Loewe: Symphonies No. 1 in D Minor & No. 2 in E Minor

Jenaer Philharmonie, Simon Gaudenz

Carl Loewe: Symphonies No. 1 in D Minor & No. 2 in E Minor
These two symphonies by the German Carl Loewe certainly deserve their rare moment in the sun. Loewe occasionally packs a Beethovenian punch, but there is some wonderfully light writing for the...

Special offer. Carl Loewe: Symphonies No. 1 in D Minor & No. 2 in E Minor

Jenaer Philharmonie, Simon Gaudenz

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CD

Original price $19.25 Reduced price $14.43

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44.1 kHz, 16 bit, FLAC/ALAC/WAV

Original price ($13.00) Reduced price $9.00

320 kbps, MP3

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This release includes a digital booklet

Stream now lossless, 44.1 kHz, 16 bit
These two symphonies by the German Carl Loewe certainly deserve their rare moment in the sun. Loewe occasionally packs a Beethovenian punch, but there is some wonderfully light writing for the...

About

Of Carl Loewe's oeuvre, his comprehensive Lied edition is best known (cpo 777 355-2). In contrast, his two symphonies are rarities that we do not want to withhold from you. Unfortunately, nothing is really known about the exact circumstances of the composition and premiere of the two symphonies. With regard to the E minor symphony, Loewe himself at least left the note that the composition was completed on December 15, 1834. With regard to the D minor symphony, it is assumed that it was composed in 1835. Especially the D minor symphony, which was composed later, comes up with surprises in its formal layout. The instrumentation is very similar to his first symphony in E minor, but the frequent use of four horns is striking, with which Loewe takes a step further towards the typical Romantic instrumentation. When looking at the sequence of movements, the interchange of slow movement and scherzo is striking, and in the harmonic structure Loewe allows himself an extravagant excursion into F-sharp major in the introduction of the fourth movement. The CD is completed with Loewe's Themisto Overture, a compressed drama whose atmosphere comes to a head with tremolo surfaces, falling lines and syncopated counter-motives.

Contents and tracklist

I. Allegro maestoso
Track length6:39
II. Scherzo. Vivace
Track length8:28
III. Andantino grazioso
Track length4:45
IV. Adagio espressivo - Allegro - Adagio - Allegro
Track length8:28
I. Larghetto - Allegro
Track length7:56
II. Larghetto
Track length5:11
III. Scherzo. Allegro molto
Track length4:41
IV. Allegro non tanto
Track length8:15

Awards and reviews

November 2022

These two symphonies by the German Carl Loewe certainly deserve their rare moment in the sun. Loewe occasionally packs a Beethovenian punch, but there is some wonderfully light writing for the woodwind too. Well worth exploring.

May/June 2023

…The performances are remarkably good, the recordings are excellent, and the music is nothing short of terrific.
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