Composer: Heinrich Sutermeister
Performer: Bruno Cathomas
Orchestra: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Conductor: Rainer Held
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Toccata
Catalogue: TOCC0420
Release: 2019
Size: 1.47 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
Romeo and Juliet Suite
01. I. Fanfares Summon the Guests to a Feast at the Capulets. Presto vivace
02. II. Music of the Feast. Più mosso
03. III. Juliet Dances with Paris. Andante con grazia
04. IV. Climax of the Masked Ball. Allegro molto
05. V. Sarabande. Andante molto sostenuto
06. VI. Fairy Mab. Presto grazioso
07. VII. Finale. Adagio
Die Alpen (Fantasy on Swiss Folksongs)
08. I. O du verklärte Welt von Bergen, Felsen, Seen
09. II. Dort senkt ein kahler Berg
10. III. Ein junger Schäfer stimmt indessen seine Leier
11. IV. Der Blumen zarten Schnee
12. V. Wenn durch die schwüle Luft
13. VI. Seht, hier, wo Gotthards Haupt die Wolken übersteigert
Aubade pour Morges
14. I. Le château. Moderato festivo
15. II. Au parc. Andante espressivo
16. III. Les vendanges. Vivo
17. IV. Clair de lune sur le lac. Molto lento
18. V. Le port. Vivo
Divertimento No. 2
19. I. Mosso, grazioso
20. II. Adagio espressivo
21. III. Vivo, con spirito
22. IV. Prestissimo
Heinrich Sutermeister (1910–95) belongs to the generation of Swiss composers after Bloch, Honegger, Martin and Schoeck. The runaway success of his operatic version of Romeo and Juliet – in the 1950s it was the most widely produced modern opera after Der Rosenkavalier – soon spread his reputation far afield, and conductors as prominent as Böhm, Karajan and Sawallisch championed his works. Although his star has waned in the quarter-century since his death, the four orchestral works recorded here – ranging from the dramatic suite he drew from that first Shakespearean operatic success via the easy-going charm of two lighter suites to his deeply felt response to the Swiss landscape – bring a salutary reminder of why his music appeals so directly to its audiences. This generously filled recording (it’s over 87 minutes in length) is the first in a project where Rainer Held will be recording unknown Swiss orchestral repertoire for release on Toccata Classics.