Search - Benjamin Frankel, Werner Andreas Albert, Queensland Symphony Orchestra :: Benjamin Frankel: Symphonies Nos. 4 & 6

Incredible Music, Brilliantly Recorded

mackjay | Cambridge, MA | 01/12/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Anyone who has been impressed with Benjamin Frankel's ingenious film scores owes it to himself to hear the composer's other music, especially the symphonies. Composed from 1958-1971, Frankel's seven symphonies form an original, consistantly inspired body of work. For some listeners, Frankel seems to carry on the Mahlerian 'tradition', using a large, expressive orchestral pallette. But Frankel creates works much smaller in scale. Also in common with Mahler's symphonies is the suggestion of a private emotional world, private, but nevertheless accessible to the attentive listener. This is music by a top-drawer musical mind in absolute command of his material and resources.This expertly engineered CPO disc contains a relatively early orchestral work, MEPHISTOPHELES' SERENADE AND DANCE (1952) and two symphonies, No.4 (1966) and No. 6 (1969). There is no enormous stylistic difference between any of Frankel's symphonies and these are two of his most inspired. They both serve as an excellent introduction to the composer. A new listener has only to hear the opening movement of No.4 to recognize the sound of a major talent. Idiomatic writing for strings and winds, strangely evocative use of percussion, dramatic, but carefully managed climaxes and a sure sense of musical shape all characterize Frankel's orchestral writing. In terms of musical idiom, this is mainly music derived from atonal methods, particularly from 12-tone methods. As is often the case with neglected composers who utilized these styles, this music has been underrated. For decades, Frankel's symphonies have been ignored by a musical elitism that insists such methods 'must' produce arid, 'academic' art. The beauty of Frankel's ideas and the sometime awesome evocation of a strange, undiscovered world are proof that assumptions about any composer's style are dangerous. Those who would avoid an unfamiliar name, or a dreaded 'film music' composer will deprive themselves of incredible music, brilliantly performed by The Queensland Symphony Orchestra, led by Andreas Albert."