Wallowing in Faux Mahler - Alfredo Casella's 2nd Symphony - World Premiere Recording

Naxos is claiming that its new release of Alfredo Casella's 2nd Symphony, Op. 12, in a performance by Francesco La  Vecchia and the Rome Symphony Orchestra, is a world premiere recording.  The piece was not published during the composer's lifetime - perhaps he was abashed at the heavy influence of Mahler permeating the music, which was premiered in Paris shortly after Mahler's 2nd Symphony had its own first performance in that city - but is now rendered in all its sonic splendor in this new recording, more than a century later, when questions of influence seem less important.

I first listened on headphones during my morning workout, and my heart was won over right away.  I immediately transferred it to the ipod and have been listening, one long movement at a time, during my commute.  This is a great soundtrack for life.  Before I had ever read the booklet notes, I had concluded that this man was heavily influenced by Mahler, only to see my opinions confirmed by the note-writer.  (I had not been aware that Casella, an Italian who spent many years living in Paris, had been instrumental in lining up the financing for the Mahler symphony premiere.)  But what struck me even more was how this score prefigures the great age of Hollywood orchestral film scores of the 1930s through the 1950s.  Indeed, this sounds to me like the perfect soundtrack score for a classic "film noir."  Lots of portentous chord progressions, rich luscious strings, pounding rhythms... this piece has it all - except, of course, for the memorable themes that are needed to qualify a piece for standard repertory status.  Casella did not quite have that melodic gift.  But everything else is in place for an exciting listening experience.

I wish I could hear it played live by a major orchestra.  The Rome SO is not a world-class ensemble, but it does very well by the score on this recording, under the energetic leadership of Maestro La Vecchia.  But imagine how much more effective it would be live, with a major orchestra string section and world class wind soloists!

The symphony runs just under an hour, leaving room for a large filler - A notte alta for piano and orchestra, Op. 30b, with pianist Sun Hee You.  This piece was written almost a decade after the symphony, and Casella had definitely moved beyond his Mahler infatuation in the intervening years.  I found this piece less absorbing, but still worth hearing.  But get this disc for the symphony, and wallow in faux Mahler, glorious faux Mahler.

Comments

[Alan Masters]

Coincidentally, Chandos have just issued a performance with BBC Philharmonic under Gianandrea Noseda.

[Art Leonard]

I haven't heard that one, but I find the Naxos recording to be quite satisfactory at 1/3 the price.