Leopold Antonin Kozeluch (1747-1818)
         Works for Orchestra

Symphony in A Major [19:33]
Piano Concerto in D major [28:03] *
Symphony in G minor [19:09]

Karl-Andreas Kolly, piano *
Zurich Chamber Orchestra
Paul Goodwin, conductor
Recorded at Radio Studio, Zurich, April 2000
Novalis 150 160-2 [67:16]

Rating: 3 of 6 Stars

Leopold Antonin Kozeluch is one of the better composers of the Classical
era who wrote in the Haydnesque style.  Actually, Haydn often performed
Kozeluch's orchestral music, obviously affectionate toward a younger
composer trying to emulate the master.  However, Kozeluch is many steps
behind Haydn in harmonic invention and melodic inspiration.

Each of the three programmed works is enjoyable, but a little Kozeluch
goes a long way.  The outer movements are best - rousing and exciting
music that can help cover the lack of great melodies.  The slow middle
movements are another matter, displaying neither significant emotional
depth nor the desired charm to somewhat offset the lack of depth and
inspiration.  The least rewarding of the three slow middle movements is
the Andantino con variation from the Piano Concerto in D major.  It has
an attractive theme followed by nine variations that simply aren't
sufficiently varied.  Any changes are cosmetic ones involving tempo,
dynamics, and register; the basic melody line keeps coming back constantly
and leads to boredom well before the end of the movement.

Don's Conclusions: A mild recommendation is the best I can do for this
Novalis disc.  Better alternatives include a Teldec disc of Kozeluch
symphonies played by the period instrument group Concerto Koln that
performs with more panache and sharper phrasing than the Zurich Chamber
Orchestra.  Staying within the Novalis family, there's an exceptional
disc of piano concertos from Franz Xaver Mozart which are much more
appealing than the Kozeluch piano concerto.  For those still interested
in the Kozeluch/Novalis recording, be assured that the sound quality is
fine though hardly of state-of-the-art proportion.

Don Satz
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