Roussel: Symphony No. 4 [Janowski]

I really like this work. The musical language is, generally, fraught. That is because of Roussel’s first hand experience of War, I presume. The first movement is terrifically animated, atmospheric, intense and menacing. The second movement is a great contrast in terms of tempo. It is very lyrical but there is a major disconcerterting underlying tone that does not bode well. The music is inherently unstable and unsettling. It is wonderfully effective in the mood and atmosphere that it creates. The Scherzo is a tense and animated affair which is well driven here. The final movement is another agitated and intense piece of music which is also well driven here.
There is an understandable sense of both tension and turbulence throughout the work. It is an inherently intense and dramatic work. I also find the scoring to be particularly effective and atmospheric.