Austrian and German composers

[Symphonic Addict]

No thread about Austro-German composers who probably don't deserve one for their own, so I'm starting one for those from any period.

This new release caught my eye. To be available on 6 November:




I had to remember who this composer is. Toccata released a recording featuring his Symphony No. 1 along with the symphonic poem Vaterland:



Two very good pieces as far as I can remember, so those quartets should be good too.

[Symphonic Addict]

To be released on 21 November:



Not familiar with this German composer (1855-1934) at all, but given how many surprises this label often delivers, it will be worth investigating for some people here, including this listener.

[Symphonic Addict]

To be released on 7 November:



The Piano Concerto had previously been released on Hyperion's Romantic Piano Concerto series, coupled with the one by Anton Urspruch. It's a very good work as far as I remember, the same goes to the Urspruch.

[Symphonic Addict]

To be released on 19 December:



The chamber music of this German composer is so tuneful and vibrant, so I have high hopes for this symphony (one out of two) and violin concerto in the form of a passacaglia.

[Symphonic Addict]

No new releases this time, but some brief impressions on Günter Raphael's string quartets instead. He wrote six quartets, but withdrew Nos. 4 and 5. It's quite nice to have recordings of those pieces. Nos. 1, 2 and 6 are performed by the Acacia Quartet and No. 3 by the Párkànyi Quartet. What about the music? Quite interesting, substantial and showing a palpable progression. No. 1 is redolent of Reger and perhaps early Hindemith, and includes some good counterpoint. Very well-written and attractive overall. No. 2 is a step forward in harmonic language and audacious writing, which definitely feels more personal. No. 3 not only reaches an even higher level of distinctiveness and sophistication, but also a pretty elegant and sometimes elusive quality. This is a formidable piece. And finally No. 6, a piece written in his late years, and for that it implies that it has a somewhat austere, reflective essence, something that many composers often imprinted in their last pieces, so this quartet feels more intimate than the previous three, like valedictory in nature. I find this kind of evolution from one piece to the next so rewarding, in this case making clear the composer's development from youthful vigour to humble resignation. Once again, the magic of music shining in all its splendour.

[Symphonic Addict]

To be released on 6 January 2026:



At last CPO is completing some pending cycles. Also, one of those rare instances where this news appear on their official website the first than on Presto.

[lunar22]

I had to remember who this composer is. Toccata released a recording featuring his Symphony No. 1 along with the symphonic poem Vaterland:



Two very good pieces as far as I can remember, so those quartets should be good too.

I discovered just now that I actually bought the Symphony a few years ago (probably when I was trying to support Toccata and it was bring out more interesting stuff than recently). Still, after Schmidt and Brincken, I'm not sure if I know a better Austrian-style late romantic symphony.

[Symphonic Addict]

I discovered just now that I actually bought the Symphony a few years ago (probably when I was trying to support Toccata and it was bring out more interesting stuff than recently). Still, after Schmidt and Brincken, I'm not sure if I know a better Austrian-style late romantic symphony.

Agreed, a pretty substantial Austrian symphony. I wish Toccata would record his Symphony No. 2 someday as well.

[Symphonic Addict]

No thread about Austro-German composers who probably don't deserve one for their own, so I'm starting one for those from any period.

This new release caught my eye. To be available on 6 November:

Just heard this brand new release featuring these two string quartets. Very worthwhile pieces, definitely interesting and with purpose and wonderfully played and recorded. Bittner was friends with Mahler, Korngold and Schmidt and he was an exact contemporary of the latter (1874-1939).

The first quartet in A major (1913) is imbued with plenty of warmth and exquisite writing, just like displaying attractive thematic material and a harmonic language so characterful of this kind of composers. The 3rd movement is like a Ländler or a sort of Austrian dance. Quite lovely and life-enhancing overall. The second quartet in E-flat major (1917) is a step forward in harmony and complexity and feels more elusive. It's not as straightforward as the first quartet, yet it sounds more, say, personal. The first two movements were really good, the next ones a bit less so, but that would be a minor complaint. Once again I want to thank CPO for championing these obscure composers whose works often manage to surprise for good.

[Symphonic Addict]

To be released on 21 November:



Not familiar with this German composer (1855-1934) at all, but given how many surprises this label often delivers, it will be worth investigating for some people here, including this listener.

This new release was worth investigating indeed, very much so, actually. These two piano trios, in C minor and E-flat major respectively, don't sound properly hackneyed or anonymous at all and they contain very fine writing and feature some arresting ongoing action. The 3rd movement from the one in C minor, in the form of a scherzo-intermezzo-scherzo, is quite fantastic, tuneful, characterful, almost resembling a tarantella; other movements I found particularly impressive were the I and IV from the op. 20, which feel so fresh, confident, vigorous, but honestly, the whole works exude spark abundantly. There's hardly an insipid moment in these magnificent pieces. The booklet notes suggest an affinity to Brahms in style, but I don't hear that.

Sorry for sounding like a broken record, but many of these obscure composers truly had something interesting to contribute to this endless and fascinating world of classical music even if they weren't top-tier masters. You don't need to be a groundbreaking genius to provide good entertainment and happiness to this world.

[Symphonic Addict]

To be released on 22 January and 6 February 2026 respectively:





The Brambach comprises a Piano Sextet and three apparently significant Piano Quartets. My curiosity is already piqued on both releases.

[Symphonic Addict]

To be released on 3 April 2026:



With this release, only his Symphony No. 1 in F major waits for being recorded. This recording of the 4th seems to be an original version as it's longer than the one on Sterling (47:30 vs 41:31). The biggest difference lies on the Scherzo.

The early anticipation of some of these brand new recordings surprises me quite a bit, and at the same time makes me more eager to hear them.

[kyjo]

To be released on 3 April 2026:



With this release, only his Symphony No. 1 in F major waits for being recorded. This recording of the 4th seems to be an original version as it's longer than the one on Sterling (47:30 vs 41:31). The biggest difference lies on the Scherzo.

The early anticipation of some of these brand new recordings surprises me quite a bit, and at the same time makes me more eager to hear them.

Some mouth-watering new releases you've been mentioning, Cesar! I'm particularly looking forward to hearing Büttner's Third, as it is one of the few symphonies in my favorite key of D-flat major (along with Hanson 2, Rangström 3, and Myaskovsky 25).

[Symphonic Addict]

Some mouth-watering new releases you've been mentioning, Cesar! I'm particularly looking forward to hearing Büttner's Third, as it is one of the few symphonies in my favorite key of D-flat major (along with Hanson 2, Rangström 3, and Myaskovsky 25).

Me too. The releases devoted to Büttner from various lavels have been very interesting so far in my view, and great symphonies all of those you mentioned. I wish there were more symphonies in that special key.

[Symphonic Addict]

Yet another winning CPO recording of rare repertoire that was under my radar. The Sextet is the same combination of the Dohnányi (horn, clarinet, piano, violin, viola and cello), and I can state it is almost as good. The Piano Quintet has a more stately character, thoroughly satisfying. It seems that every recording Triendl participates in, it's a must-hear to me.

[kyjo]

Yet another winning CPO recording of rare repertoire that was under my radar. The Sextet is the same combination of the Dohnányi (horn, clarinet, piano, violin, viola and cello), and I can state it is almost as good. The Piano Quintet has a more stately character, thoroughly satisfying. It seems that every recording Triendl participates in, it's a must-hear to me.

Almost as good as the Dóhnanyi Sextet, you say? I certainly must hear it, then!

[André]

No new releases this time, but some brief impressions on Günter Raphael's string quartets instead. He wrote six quartets, but withdrew Nos. 4 and 5. It's quite nice to have recordings of those pieces. Nos. 1, 2 and 6 are performed by the Acacia Quartet and No. 3 by the Párkànyi Quartet. What about the music? Quite interesting, substantial and showing a palpable progression. No. 1 is redolent of Reger and perhaps early Hindemith, and includes some good counterpoint. Very well-written and attractive overall. No. 2 is a step forward in harmonic language and audacious writing, which definitely feels more personal. No. 3 not only reaches an even higher level of distinctiveness and sophistication, but also a pretty elegant and sometimes elusive quality. This is a formidable piece. And finally No. 6, a piece written in his late years, and for that it implies that it has a somewhat austere, reflective essence, something that many composers often imprinted in their last pieces, so this quartet feels more intimate than the previous three, like valedictory in nature. I find this kind of evolution from one piece to the next so rewarding, in this case making clear the composer's development from youthful vigour to humble resignation. Once again, the magic of music shining in all its splendour.

Big fan of Raphael's music. Querstand has issued some very interesting releases (not always new recordings) and CPO has 2 superb boxes of his symphonies and violin concerti.