COMPOSERS: Berger
LABELS: Koch Schwann
WORKS: Variations and Fugue on an Original Theme, Op. 97; Wind Serenade, Op. 102
PERFORMER: Bamberg SO/Jost Michaels
CATALOGUE NO: 3-1072-2 DDD
One of the virtually forgotten ‘post-Brahmsians’, Wilhelm Berger (1861-1911) conducted the Meiningen orchestra, where Hans von Bülow championed Brahms; but his output of songs, chamber and orchestral music sank without trace, until now. This disc reveals a lavishly gifted ‘missing link’ between Brahms and the 20th century. Harmonically cleaner than Reger, and masterfully scored, the massive orchestral variations should appeal to fans of that composer’s Hiller set. Beautiful music, well worth exploring. Calum MacDonald
Berger: Variations and Fugue on an Original Theme, Op. 97; Wind Serenade, Op. 102
One of the virtually forgotten ‘post-Brahmsians’, Wilhelm Berger (1861-1911) conducted the Meiningen orchestra, where Hans von Bülow championed Brahms; but his output of songs, chamber and orchestral music sank without trace, until now. This disc reveals a lavishly gifted ‘missing link’ between Brahms and the 20th century. Harmonically cleaner than Reger, and masterfully scored, the massive orchestral variations should appeal to fans of that composer’s Hiller set. Beautiful music, well worth exploring. Calum MacDonald
Published: January 20, 2012 at 2:33 pm