Customer Reviews

Georg Joseph Vogler: Symphonies; Overtures; Ballets

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One is immediately impressed by the clarity and concision of this music, its freshness and vitality. In fact it comes across as something of a revelation, especially when considered in relation to Vogler's main historical claim to fame--as the teacher of Weber and Meyerbeer, who as young men lived together under his roof in Darmstadt and learned so much of their skills from him. Vogler's powerful influence on both manifests itself in even the few short pieces presented so effectively and lovingly in this excellent recording. The busy rushing strings of Vogler's little Symphony in G point so tellingly to Weber's characteristic use of the violins in both the overtures to 'Der Freischütz' and 'Oberon', while the overture to Vogler's 'Athalie' is clearly the direct inspiration for Weber's 'Beherrscher der Geister'. The punctuating dotted chords and striking deployment of high and low woodwind in unison, with prominent use of the bassoon carrying the melody in the Ballet Suite No. 1, provide other characteristics that would become features of Meyerbeer's musical vocabulary. So in terms of both sheer musical enjoyment, full of unusual and striking ideas, and as an important piece of historical documentation, this marvellous recording is to be applauded. It is a most appropriate celebration of 30 years of outstanding musical contribution by the London Mozart Players, and a tribute to the inspirational Matthias Bamert.

I was impressed with these Symphonies, to the point that i would play them again quite often. Not quite Mozart, but enjoyable.

Vogler was an outstanding man, world traveler (not an easy thing in the 18th century), teacher (of Carl Maria von Weber & Meyerbeer among others), music theorist, world famous in his day, disliked by Mozart (not always a bad thing), etc. A full length biography would make a fascinating read. His music, however, is only so so. I'll keep this cd and will listen occasionally, but more for who the man was than for the quality of the music.