Customer Reviews

Piet Hein Rhapsody

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Cornelis Dopper, like so much of his contemporaries, has regrettably become the victim of Dutch self-loathing. As this disc proves, he deserves better. The seventh symphony is an impression of the inland, 'Zuider' sea, but it is impressionist rather than real programme music. Dopper was a champion of impressionists such as Ravel and Debussy as assistant director of the Concertgebouw Orchestra, and those influences are heard here, as well as a true Mahlerian fanfare in the finale. However, that doesn't mean that this is derivative music. Dopper's distinctive, muscular style dominates this work, IMO easily his best symphony.
Dopper himself considered the 'Ciaconna Gotica' of 1918 his best work. However, it is a bit hard to judge here since Bakels, like Mengelberg before him, decided to cut about half off the 40-minute piece. What remains is a torso with loose ends everywhere; on the other hand, the fragments on offer are enough to convince that the full thing must be pretty impressive.
Peter van Anrooy's "Piet Hein Rapsody" of 1901 draws heavily from a popular song about a seventeenth-century pirate who captured a Spanish silver fleet for the Dutch. In fact, this comes closest to a Dutch "Last Nights of the Proms" piece that I can think of (another candidate being Verhulst's "Ghysbrecht" overtur"). It is well crafted, fittingly ramboisterous and above all a load of fun.
All pieces are played admirably by the Dutch Radio Orchestra and Bakels; the recording is a bit thin and cold, but full of detail. Shame about the cut, though...

This CD came into my possession completely by accident. I assure you however, that if I ever lost it I would do whatever it takes to get another copy.
Peter van Anrooy's Piet hein Rhapsody is a wonderful work, and by itself would make the CD worth purchasing. The Cornelis Dopper works however, both the Ciaconna gotica and especially the Symphony No. 7, are so exceptionally pleasing that they promptly joined that collection of works I consider my favorites.
I largely rate music on its ability to touch my soul and Dopper's symphony definitely does that. In particular the Andante rubato of the symphony stirs some pretty powerful emotions in me. The Finale provides an invigorating lift but offers no reprieve from the intoxicating effects of what precedes it. Being a chemist and not a poet, I feel inadequate trying to describe how this symphony affects me, so I will give up the attempt.
The music on this CD is like a beautiful sunset; it needs to be shared with someone. If I could only recommend one CD in my entire life I think this is the one I would pick.