Albéric Magnard - Symphony No. 1 Op. 4 (1890)
Conducted by Thomas Sanderling with the Malmo Symphony Orchestra.
I. Strepitoso - 00:00
II. Religioso - Andante - 10:40
III. Presto - 20:34
IV. Molto Energico - 24:40:
Lucien Denis Gabriel Albéric Magnard was a French composer, sometimes referred to as the "French Bruckner", though there are significant differences between the two composers. Magnard became a national hero in 1914 when he refused to surrender his property to German invaders and died defending it.
The first symphony opens in a densely decorated grandeur - all very Franckian. The second movement is ecclesiastical, deploying long and distinguished musical lines and rising to a bright and big treatment of the theme in Elgarian spirit. There is a notably fine trumpet solo. The third movement is a boisterous presto like the wild dance of a witches' coven. The finale is a Brahmsian molto allegro with exciting woodwind contributions, impassioned string playing and explosive lightning-strike contributions from the violins. It ends in regal brass work.
Albéric Magnard - Symphony No. 2 Op. 6 (1893)
Conducted by Thomas Sanderling with the Malmo Symphony Orchestra.
I. Ouverture - Assez Anime - 00:00
II. Danses - Vif - 11:23
III. Chant Varie - Andante Con Moto - 17:31
IV. Final - Vif et Gai - 32:46
The second symphony opens with a lively Ouverture. The second movement Danses is like a roundabout; musicbox bright and inspired with ideas darting and glistening. The third movement Chant Varie is Wagnerian and its silvery strings lend a real enchantment to the proceedings although this is the one movement where meandering descends into noodling and the attention drifts. The finale is a movement marked vif )(a favoured marking) where the spirit of Bizet's Arlesienne haunts the pages. It ends in further celebration and with startling pre-echoes of Janacek's Sinfonietta.
Albéric Magnard - Symphony No. 3 Op. 11 (1896)
Conducted by Thomas Sanderling with the Malmo Symphony Orchestra.
I. Introduction Et Ouverture. Modere-Vif-Movt De L'Introduction - 00:00
II. Danses. Tres Fiv-Dedoublez Movement - 15:22
III. Pastorale. Modere - 22:00
IV. Finale - Vif - 33:48
The Introduction to the Third Symphony is darkly choleric like a cave of the darkest dreams. The atmosphere is strong and the roof of the cave is decorated by the gentlest of strings with glowing lights. The second Danses (again très vif) sets off at an explosive presto, scurrying and businesslike. The third movement sags somewhat, suffering from meandering. The finale is grandly life-enhancing, flighty and emphatic. At 38:58 an echoing figure for the strings counterpoints a gloomier idea on the brass -- it's pure magic. The strings are often engaged in mysterious scampering. This is redolent of Sibelius and after much silky work for the sensitive violins the work ends with Elgarian resolve.
Albéric Magnard - Symphony No. 4 Op. 21 (1913)
Conducted by Thomas Sanderling with the Malmo Symphony Orchestra.
I. Modéré - 00:00
II. Vif - 12:17
III. Sans lenteur et nuancé - 18:01
IV. Animé - 31:39
The Fourth Symphony opens with warm winds blowing up from the South like the Mistral or Föhn. The vif second movement is stirringly colourful, strongly flavoured with the music of rural France, Canteloube's Auvergne and even a hint of the rustic Kodály. Here it becomes apparent that Ossonce has split the violins, first and second, left and right as Boult customarily did. It makes for an excellent musical effect. The Chant Varié is Rimskian with more echoing delicacy for the violins and an evocation of the glistening grandeur of a cathedral roof far above. The finale has a tendency towards heavy molasses but it ends in the most pellucid of textures with a calm unwinding return to the original theme and an ineffable sense of journey's done and symphonic satisfaction.
