Hartmann's Bergian music is dour but glowingly lit with strong elements of
impressionism.
Symphony No 5 Symphonie Concertante (1950)
The orchestra used here is a departure from the standard: double woodwind,
pairs of trumpets and trombones, tuba, and strings (cellos and double basses
only). Four movements lasting in this performance 17:25 by comparison with
the Wergo set at c. 16 minutes. There are many Stravinskian touches including
Dumbarton Oaks and Symphonies of Wind Instruments. The Rite of Spring's bassoon
theme is played with repeatedly at the start of the second movement. The
final movement closes in a stuttered gesture from the brass but not before
much bleak humour, Weill and Eisler style.
Symphony No 6 (1952-3)
The trio of symphonies 6-8 are each in two movements. No 6 based on a withdrawn
1938 work was inspired by Zola's novel L'Oeuvre. Hartmann's darting
aspirant melodiousness is prominent with an emphasis on the most legato of
instrumental singers: the string section. The cataracts of song are in fullest
spate goaded on by brass and percussion. The second movements (toccata -
with fugal interventions rather like Reger on 'speed') buzzes with an insectiform
tumult indebted to Bartók. Gamelan-like percussion and orchestral
piano rockslide the symphony to a headlong conclusion in which shards of
jazz and a Bernsteinian mêlée mix in one unsoothing hectic fever
of disorder. Utterly compelling.
Symphony No 8 (1960-62)
This symphony is by far the toughest nut to crack amongst the sequence of
eight. Hartmann's atonally singing heart, revealed in the rolling tune of
the Cantilène, is touchingly orated by viola. Furiously tense strings
drive the movement onwards relieved only by the benediction of the marimba
and the dark encouragement of the brass. The second movement (Dithyrambe)
is memorable for a quiet sardonic march with a triumphal leer and snarl.
Its hop-skip heroics cannot however hide its unconvincing ending.
Good notes (German, English and French) by Michael Struck-Schloen.
At a personal level can I say how pleased I was to come across a recording
by Günther Herbig whose Bruckner interpretations with the Bournemouth
SO during the early 1970s at Bristol's Colston Hall were my real introduction
that composer's symphonic world.
If you enjoy the symphonies of Shostakovich, Allan Pettersson, Humphrey Searle
or Benjamin Frankel you will want to hear this disc. The present CD is the
best single disc introduction to the Hartmann symphonies. It is a gem and
a more welcoming (though still challenging) option than the four disc Wergo
set. The performances are winning and instantly convincing. There is nothing
half-hearted about what I take to be radio broadcast tapes. As for the sound
you need have no fears. The quality is marvellous. The Sonic Solutions No
Noise system has been applied to fine and refined effect. Recommended. (c)
Robert Barnett
Reviewer
Rob Barnett
HARTMANN A DISCOGRAPHY OF THE SYMPHONIES
Please let me know of any errors, omissions or other corrections.
Symphonies Nos. 1-8. Gesangszene (1963)
Doris Soffel (contr); Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (bar); Bavarian Radio Symphony
Orchestra / Fritz Rieger, Rafael Kubelik, Ferdinand Leitner, Zdenek Macal.
CD Wergo WER60187-50 (four CD set: 225 minutes: ADD). From LP set WER60086.
Symphonies-No. 1 (1935-6); No. 2 (1946) Adagio; No. 3 (1948-9); No. 4 (1947);
No. 5 (1950); No. 6 (1952-3); No. 7 (1957-8); No. 8 (1960-62).
Symphony No. 1, "Versuch eines Requiem" (1935-6)
(Martinu Memorial to Lidice. Nono Canti di vita e d'amore. Schoenberg A Survivor
from Warsaw, Op. 46)
Sarah Leonard (sop); Cornelia Kallisch (contr); Thomas Randle (ten); Udo
Samel (spkr); men's voices of the Bamberg Symphony Chorus; Bamberg Symphony
Orchestra / Ingo Metzmacher.
CD EMI CDC5 55424-2 (59 minutes: DDD).
Symphony No. 1, "Versuch eines Requiem" (1935-6)
LP Wergo WER 60 061 c/w Gesangszene - presum. the same recording as in the
boxed set?
No. 2, "Adagio". (1946)
Gesangsszene to words from Jean Giraudoux's "Sodom and Gomorrah". Sinfonia
Tragica.
Siegmund Nimsgern (bar); Bamberg Symphony Orchestra / Karl Anton Rickenbacher.
CD Koch Schwann CD 312952
Symphony No 2 (1946)
(c/w Sym 5 plus - Stravinsky - symphony in 3 movements Bernd Alois Zimmermann
- symphony in one movement)
Bamberg Symphony Orchestra / Ingo Metzmacher Arno Bornkamp - Bariton Saxophon
rec 1997: CD EMI CDC 5 56184 2
Symphony No 2 (1946)
Rosbaud cond the SWF SinfonieOrch
CD DMR 1004-6 Deutsche Harmonia Mundi.
Poss same recording is now part of a 4-CD Col Legno set, AU-031800 CD Col
Legno
Symphony No. 3. (1948-9)
Ives Robert Browning Overture.
Bamberg Symphony Orchestra / Ingo Metzmacher.
CD EMI CDC5 55254-2
Symphony No. 4 (1947)
Franz Andre cond Brussels Radio Symphony strings or INR Symphony Orchestra,
Brussels
LP ca. 1950 10" mono Capitol-Telefunken LP L-8146
Symphony No. 4 (1947)
(finale Adagio Appassionato only)
LP DL9769 LP "New Directions in Music and Sound", Contemporary German Music.
Nr.1. This LP also has the Finale of Fortner's Symphony (a most distinguished
work, the Paganini variations by Blacher, the Capriccio for Orchestra op.
2 by von Einem, and the Furioso for Orchestra by Rolf Liebermann).
Symphony No. 4 (1947)
(finale Adagio Appassionato only)
reputed DG 78 - no details
Symphony No. 4 (1947)
(c/w Messiaen Et exspecto resurrectionem mortuorum).
Bamberg Symphony Orchestra / Ingo Metzmacher.
CD EMI CDC7 54916-2
Symphonies 4 (1947) and 8
Bavarian RSO/Kubelik LP DG (1968) (different performances from those on the
Wergo set)
LP DG 139359, in stereo. Recording June 1967.
Ever issued on CD? Probably not. If issued on CD - numbers?
Symphony No 5 (1950):
(c/w Sym 2; Stravinsky symphony in 3 movements; Bernd Alois Zimmermann symphony
in one movement)
Bamberg Symphony Orchestra / Ingo Metzmacher
1997 CD EMI CDC 5 56184 2
Symphony No 5 (1950): (c/w 6 & 8)
Berlin SO/Gunther Herbig
CD Berlin Classics 0090482BC
Symphony No 6 (1952-3)
cond. Ferenc Fricsay RIAS Symphony Orchestra, Berlin
LP mono Decca Gold Label DL 9861 US release mid 1950s?
LP Reissued 801 Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft
(c/w Egk: French Suite after Rameau. RIAS Berlin, Ferenc Fricsay. (ca. 1957?).
This is Nr.2 in the series "New Directions in Music and Sound",
Contemporary German Music.
Symphony No 6 (1952-3)
(c/w Berg 3 pieces for orchestra op 6; Webern 6 pieces for orchestra for
orchestra op 6)
Bamberg Symphony Orchestra / Ingo Metzmacher
1996 CD EMI CDC 5 55612 2
Symphony No 6 (1952-3)
(c/w 5 & 8)
Berlin SO/Gunther Herbig
CD Berlin Classics 0090482 BC
Symphony No 6 (1952-3)
c/w Berg : Wozzeck - three pieces BRSO, Kupper(s) (1955) Dallapiccola : Two
pieces for Orchestra BRSO (1955)
Erich Kleiber/Bavarian Radio SO
CD Stradivarius STR10084
Symphony No 7 (1957-8)
Bamberg Symphony Orchestra / Ingo Metzmacher
(c/w Symphony No. 8)
CD EMI CDC 5 56427 2 1997
Symphony No 8 (1960-62)
Bamberg Symphony Orchestra / Ingo Metzmacher
(c/w Symphony No. 7)
CD EMI CDC 5 56427 2 1997
Symphony No. 8 (1960-62)
Bavarian RSO/Kubelik LP DG (1968) (different performances from those on the
Wergo set)
LP DG 139359, in stereo. Recording June 1967.
(world premiere No. 8 1962 conducted by Rafael Kubelik at Cologne)
Reissued on CD? in DG Collectors series 1985?
Hartmann Symphonies No 8 (1960-62)
Leipzig RSO/Herbert Kegel (c/w 5 and 6)
CD Berlin Classics 0090482BC
*************************************
Your corrections and additions very much welcomed.
Footnote in the Metzmacher series:-
Gesangszene Sodom and Gomorrah; Miserae Gesangszene: Wolfgang Schoene Baritone;
Hermann Pfister flute solo Bamberg Symphony Orchestra / Ingo Metzmacher.
(c/w Dallapiccola Canto di Liberazione with Chor des Sueddeutschen Rundfunks
and the RIAS Kammerchor) 1997 CD EMI CDC 5 56468 2
Recording list compiled in June 1998 by Rob Barnett from information supplied
by many contributors to the rec.music.classical.records
newsgroup.
* **Berlin SO/Günther Herbig #Leipzig RSO/Herbert
Kegel
