Enescu: Symphony 2

 

The liner notes from this Chandos recording intimate the third movement of Enescu's Second Symphony (which is sometimes pried apart as third and fourth movements separately) could take many, many listenings to come to terms with. From my perspective, it is this last movement which is the easiest to latch onto, despite its spontaneous leaps into musical variety.

But I am getting ahead of myself. George Enescu's Symphony no. 2 in A Major is a work of solid Late-Romanticism, a musical style which has never been a particular favorite of mine. The music of the first two movements just seem to go on and on endlessly. The first movement's music moves heroically, very much in the shadow of Richard Strauss, while the second movement has French airs about it, almost sensually so.

Then, the third movement appears with an introductory gloomy march, leading directly into the movement proper, or the fourth movement, depending on how you see this work being structured. The music is quixotic and fragmentary, reminding me of Respighi's Roman Festivals from time to time. For me, this is where Enescu's music finally becomes interesting and coherent, although perhaps a little too late for this listener. The percussion especially adds some color to this finale.

On the other hand, I have no problems with Romanian Rhapsody no. 2 in D Major. As opposed to the extroverted First Rhapsody, this one bears a slow tempo, one which nearly stretches across the entire 14-minute work. Only a final burst of energy in the last minute or so interrupts the gentle swaying and song-like lyricism found in the majority of its runtime. 

Modal harmonies and folk rhythms are featured in the Rhapsody's music, making this piece instantaneously approachable, far from the overwrought largesse of the symphonies. To my ears, the music almost sounds Spanish, perhaps exposing my ignorance of Romanian musical traditions.

I wish the recording quality were better. Chandos has replicated an inside shopping mall ice-skating rink acoustic, providing a rather grandiose setting for the playing from the BBC Orchestra, but shearing any minute instrumental detail a-sea in a wash of sound.

So too, Gennady Rozhdestvensky is slow in this music. While the Rhapsody universally comes in around 11-12 minutes, here the Soviet conductor draws the piece out to a solid 14 minutes. It is much the same for the symphony, perhaps a reason I have an aversion to the music here. Yet, I am not taken enough by Enescu's Symphony no. 2 to try another, of which, there is a goodly amount of other recordings available.

 

 

 

Work Series
Vol. 2 from Enescu Symphonies on Chandos



Works
Symphony 2 in A Major, op. 17 (57.34)
Romanian Rhapsody 2, op. 11 no. 2 (14.04)

Performers
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Gennady Rozhdestvensky, conductor

Label: Chandos
Year: 1997; 2017
Total Timing: 71.52

Find more Enescu recordings HERE!