Joachim Raff’s symphonies present a synthesis of pure music and the programmatic elements of the neo-German school exemplified in the symphonic poems of Liszt. His Eighth Symphony from 1876, Frühlingsklänge, was followed in 1878 with his Ninth, Im Sommer, forming a celebration of spring and summer that are part of a set that make up the four seasons. Both are written in an immediately attractive and approachable style, and scored for a relatively modest orchestra of Classical rather than Wagnerian dimensions.

This release previously appeared in 1992 on the Marco Polo label (8.223362) as a complete rarity.

These recordings of Joachim Raff’s symphonies were pioneering in their day and, while these works have since been taken up in recordings by the Tudor and cpo labels, they still stand as equals in terms of performance and recording quality. Raff’s symphonic ‘Four Seasons’ has its own appeal, and this part of our ongoing re-releases of Raff’s music will certainly whet collector’s appetites for more.