a r t i s t : Hermann Hans Wetzler (Frank Beermann)
t i t l e : Visionen, Assisi
d a t e : 2009
l a b e l : CPO
c a t : CPO 777 412-2
s o u r c e : CDDA
g e n r e : Classical
r l s. d a t e : Apr/2010
t r a c k s : 12
b i t r a t e : VBRkbps
s i z e : 67,7 MB
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Visionen and Assisi, two large-scale orchestral works by
Hermann Hans Wetzler (1870-1943) are the centerpieces of a
new recording by the Robert Schumann Philharmonia under the
direction of Frank Beermann.
Who is Wetzler you might ask? Born in Frankfurt am Main,
Wetzler grew up in Chicago and Cincinnati. In 1885 Wetzler
and family moved back to Germany and Hermann studied at the
Hoch Conservatory under the gaze of Clara Schumann. He
eventually moved to New York where he worked as an organist,
violist, choir director and piano teacher. In 1902 he
established his own orchestra and concert series. Wetzler's
music was cast in the big post-Romantic style and was
strongly influenced by Richard Strauss. If you like Mahler
and Strauss you will probably like Wetzler's music. The
Visonen are grandly scaled tone poems which, according to the
liner notes, "capture in musical form visions of the human
spirit." There's lots of fire and bluster in the work and
Wetzler skillfully sets a dramatic mood in each movement.
Fans of Mahler will be particularly drawn to the Intermezzo
ironico movement, a grotesque dance that conjures up memories
of many a Mahler scherzo. Assisi is also quite a strong; it's
an epic six-movement work with echoes of early Schoenberg in
the Einsamkeit (Solitude) movement and Strauss in the final
Bruder Tod (Brother Death) section.
The Robert Schumann Philharmonia isn't the Berlin
Philharmonic but they are a competent ensemble just the same.
Their conductor Frank Beermann excels in leading the
orchestra in recordings of many of these B minus level
composers, so there is no reason not to give this a listen.
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01-visionen, op. 12 - 1. introduzione [03:32]
02-visionen, op. 12 - 2. carico d'anni e di pechati [08:30]
03-visionen, op. 12 - 3. scherzo demoniaco [03:19]
04-visionen, op. 12 - 4. intermezzo ironico [05:31]
05-visionen, op. 12 - 5. fugato [03:07]
06-visionen, op. 12 - 6. risonanza estrema [09:03]
07-assisi, op. 13 - 1. einsamkeit [03:47]
08-assisi, op. 13 - 2. trauerglocken [03:45]
09-assisi, op. 13 - 3. ostermorgen [04:00]
10-assisi, op. 13 - 4. vogelpredigt [03:35]
11-assisi, op. 13 - 5. schwester sonne [03:27]
12-assisi, op. 13 - 6. bruder tod [02:53]
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54:29 min