Search - Michael Hersch, Marin Alsop, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra :: Michael Hersch: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 2

Bim! Bang! Pow!

Patrick W. Crabtree | Lucasville, OH USA | 09/24/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"First, I need to say that I am a huge fan of both Modern and Contemporary Classical Music including such works as Berg: Wozzeck, Jouni Kaipainen: Horn Concerto; Cello Concerto, Paul Hindemith: Complete Orchestral Works [Box Set], Schoenberg: Pierrot Lunaire, and so on. But these compositions by Michael Hersch mostly seemed to come off as little more than "sound experiments" to me.



I have re-played this CD multiple times, thinking that perhaps I was missing something but the music seems to have no core and wanders (and jerks) aimlessly about. If one were to take little nubs and pieces of the above works that I cited, then you'd get a similar result... everything from groaning cello to atmospheric near-dead space to in-your-face percussion, but little central theme. Probably my biggest critique is that Hersch broke no new ground in this instance that I could hear.



On the CD listeners will find:



Tracks 1-4, Symphony No. 2 (19:18)

Track 5, Fracta (11:11)

Track 6, Symphony No. 1 (27:00)

Track 7, Arraché (6:52)



The bulk of these works and movements share this implication of theme absence, Fracta excepted. It's a moody piece with a minimalist ambiance which flows along nicely.



I do give the PERFORMANCE by the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Marin Alsop great credit. I just wish they would have had more to work with.



Usually Naxos brings home the bacon on these lesser-known compositions and gives them some well-deserved exposure but I'll have to wait for Hersch's compositions to mature a bit before giving him another try."