Reznicek: Symphonische Suite No. 1, Traumspiel Suite & Karneval Suite

Featuring

Stefan Solyom
Staatskapelle Weimar
Emil Nikolaus von Reznicek

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Composer Biography

Emil Nikolaus von Reznicek (1860-1945) was born into an aristocratic family, with his father being a self-made military general and his mother belonging to Romanian high nobility.

Critical Reception

Reznicek's Symphonische Suite Nr. 1 received harsh criticism at its premiere from one reviewer, who found it 'uncomprehensible' that it was allowed for a public examination, yet the publisher G.W. Fritzsch immediately accepted it for publication.

Composer Biography

Reznicek initially studied law at his father's insistence but switched to music after failing a law exam, with his father's reluctant permission.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Reznicek's examiners, Carl Reinecke and Salomon Jadassohn, recognized the high quality of his Symphonische Suite Nr. 1 despite its 'New German' style, which diverged from their own conservative Mendelssohnian tradition.

Performer Biography

The Staatskapelle Weimar, founded in 1491, is one of Germany's oldest orchestras, with a history linked to figures like Johann Sebastian Bach, Franz Liszt, and Richard Strauss.

Historical Context

Reznicek's career was impacted by political events; he resigned from his role as German delegate for an international composers' council when it was politically aligned in 1942, partly to protect his 'half-Jewish' wife.