Search - Karl Goldmark, Yondani Butt, Philharmonia Orchestra of London :: Goldmark: Symphony No. 2; Prometheus Bound, Op. 38

NO LANDMARK GOLDMARK HERE

Melvyn M. Sobel | Freeport (Long Island), New York | 12/11/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Karl Goldmark (1830-1915) ditched his Symphony No. 1 after a poor Viennese reception in 1860, not writing his "Rustic Wedding Symphony" (which is really not a symphony at all, but more a "suite" of symphonic proportions) until 1877.



To these ears, his Symphony No. 2 is a rather low temperature work: it tries hard enough to raise steam--- with a sort of labored and obvious effort--- but musical ideas seem surprisingly sophomoric. Needless to say, the entire symphony is unmemorable and hardly gets above lukewarm. Not even the requisite Andante stands out as being interesting or charming.



Poor Karl... maybe you should have scrubbed this enterprise, too?



The overtures are fairly uninspired, as well, which, coupled as they are with the relatively mundane Symphony No. 2, makes this CD a musical dud.



Butt makes a valiant attempt, with smoke and mirrors, but fails to mine any new gold here, or hit the mark.



[Running time: 61:12]"