Search - Netherlands Symphony Orchestra, J. Rontgen :: Julius Röntgen: Aus Goethes Faust

Musical celebration of Faust--another welcome CPO discovery

Todd Nolan | Seattle, WA USA | 05/22/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"After enjoying the Rontgen 3rd symphony released last year, I have since purchased his CD of three cello concertos and another disc with his violin concerto (coupled with Chausson's Poeme & a Hubay concerto). This German/Dutch composer is fast becoming a favorite, his music has Glazunov's or Elgar's gift for melody and sustains interest for the entire work, no dead weight or filler.



This cantata was composed to commemorate the centenary of Faust's publication. One soprano joins two tenors, two baritones, a bass and a talented choir with the Netherlands Symphony Orchestra, not a band I've seen listed on any recording before. They play wonderfully though, the brass would have you thinking its the Concertgebouw under Chailly. Mixing all the forces on hand almost evenly between beautiful orchestral interludes, operatic solo arias and thrilling choral sections, this is well worth a listen for anyone wanting to investigate late Romantic works. You wouldn't think it was composed in the 1930s--it shares the same sound-world of Bruch's choral pieces (Moses, Lay of the Bell, Odysseus), but this cantata is much more memorable. As much as I love Bruch's instrumental music, his vocal & choral writing bore me to sleep (except for the beautiful Kyrie, Sanctus & Agnus Dei, opus 35). This Rontgen work doesn't allow your attention to wander. For comparison purposes, if you like R.Strauss' Tallieferre, Mahler's Knaben Wunderhorn, Sullivan's Golden Legend and/or Dyson's Canterbury Pilgrims, I think you'll like this."