BBC Philharmonic/Mena
Weber: Symphonies 1 and 2 etc
(Chandos)
THERE is a paradox about the music of Carl Maria von Weber. Rightly, he is regarded as a founding father of German Romanticism, and Wagner worshipped him. This, one assumes, pertains to Weber the opera composer. But here, on this new Chandos recording with the seamless BBC Phil and its dynamic conductor Juanjo Mena extracting every ounce of juice from the music in front of them, we hear Weber the young symphonist. Neither of Weber's symphonies has come close to entering the concert repertoire. You'll hear why on this disc. Despite their impeccable classical structuring, skilful craftsmanship and Weber's already brilliant ability at orchestration, both works lack any real symphonic or melodic core. And there is scarcely a harmonic hint of the Weber to come. The etceteras have the best of it in Karen Geoghegan's winning and superbly characterised account of the Bassoon Concerto (now there's good Weber) and the infectious Invitation To The Dance, which seems to have slipped from the repertoire these days.
Michael Tumelty
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