Charles Koechlin: Le Docteur Fabricius; Vers la Voûte étoilée

Charles Koechlin: Le Docteur Fabricius; Vers la Voûte étoilée

composed by Charles Koechlin, 1867-1950; conducted by Heinz Holliger, 1939-; produced by Andreas Priemer; performed by SWR Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra (Südwestrundfunk (SWR)), 1 hour 4 mins

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Details

Field of Interest
Classical Music
Composer
Charles Koechlin, 1867-1950
Conductor
Heinz Holliger, 1939-
Content Type
Music recording
Duration
1 hour 4 mins
Recording Engineer
Wilfried Wenzl
Ensemble
SWR Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra
Format
Audio
Sub Genre
Nocturne, Piece, Symphonic Suite
Label
Südwestrundfunk (SWR)
Producer
Andreas Priemer
Date Recorded
2003-02-01
Review
Held in high esteem as a theorist and teacher, Charles Koechlin was less celebrated in his time as a composer; regarded later as too quaint to emulate, his eclectic and inconsistent music faded into near obscurity. Whether this 2004 CD from Hänssler triggers a Koechlin revival is uncertain, but these world-premiere recordings of Vers la Voûte étoilée and Le Docteur Fabricius help redress the neglect and provide a generous sample of Koechlin's lush and moody programmatic style. Vers la Voûte étoilée is attractive for its pretty, Impressionistic colors, but this soft nocturne is too short for anything more than its single crescendo effect. Le Docteur Fabricius has more variety and musical conflict, and Koechlin's use of dissonant counterpoint, polytonality, and atonal chromaticism provide some points of interest. However, there are few masterful or memorable touches in this work; beyond the enigmatic Ondes Martenot solo in Le Ciel étoilée, the music is labored in an academic manner and drawn out too long after its climax. The Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart, under Heinz Holliger's direction, turns in a respectable performance, but it is slow to ignite, and often seems to languish in the tangled web of Koechlin's unfocused polyphony and vaporous orchestration. The sound quality is decent, but indistinct in several places. ~ Blair Sanderson, All Music Guide
Subject
Classical Music, Music & Performing Arts, 20th Century, Siglo XX, Século XX
Keywords and Translated Subjects
Siglo XX, Século XX

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