Kurt Weill - Symphonies No. 1 & No. 2 - Kracow Philharmonic Orchestra

Yes, Kurt Weill wrote more than the "Threepennies Opera" and Broadway songs. Symphonies for example. Some of you may want to check these out and discover another side to Kurt 'September song' Weill.

Weill´s first symphony may surprise listeners who mainly know him through his collaborations with Brecht, for the young composer was writing in a post-Wagnerian idion strongly reminiscent of Liszt, Strauss, mahler and ideed Schoenberg himself. In 1957, seven years after Weills death, the symphony was give its premiere, under the title "Berlin Symphony", in a broadcast performance by the North-West German Radio Orchestra under Wilhelm Schüchter.

More than any other work, the second symphony marks a turning-point in Weill´s life. The first movement was completed, at least in sketch form, in Berlin in January 1933, and is thus very close in date to the last two stage works to be completed and performed in Germany, "Die Bürgschaft" and "Der Silbersee". Weill put the finishing touches to the symphony in February 1934 in Louveciennes, a suburb of Paris, which became his first fixed abode while in exile. Weill´s second symphony may be seen as the reflection and sum of his musical and stylistic devolopment at that time.

This album was recorded in 1989 and 1990 with the Kracow Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Roland Bade.

Roland Bader (born 24 August 1938) is a German choral conductor and music director. He is the principal guest conductor of the Kraków Philharmonic Orchestra and the Opera Krakowska, officially authorized as representative for their guest performances in Germany and Switzerland.

Trackslist:

Sinfonie Nr. 1 'in einem Satz' (1921)
1. Sinfonie Nr. 1 'in einem Satz' (25:41)

Sinfonie Nr. 2 (1933-34)
2. I. Sostenuto - Allegro molto (9:22)
3. II. Largo (12:03)
4. III. Allegro vivace (6:29)

Kurt Weill - Symphonies No. 1 & No. 2 - Kracow Philharmonic Orchestra
(256 kbps, front cover included)