Audition: Honegger - Symphony No. 2 - SWRSO/Denève
Honegger - Symphony No. 2 - WDRSO/Denève Recorded 7-9 Oct December 2014, Stadthalle, Stuttgart Trumpet: Thomas Hannes 2015 SWR classic Denéve and band are reasonably well recorded with good delineation of the multiple sized groups but some of the solos seem either lost or ignored and according to my score at least one additional solo cello line (briefly), but that might be an artefact. I have a soft spot for the conductor and we all respect the craft of European radio orchestras. This is not the last word in this piece on record, but it is fleet and atmospheric. The almost static opening is almost immediately compromised by the hardening of the tone at the first tutti and some quicksilver playing. Denève lets the music ebb and flow in the initial pages with glorious string sections and subsections are glorious though a little bass heavy. At the Allegro section Denève and orchestra show a marvellous balance. Tempo changes are very well done throughout. When the mu...
