Album insights
Born in Austria-Hungary in 1874, Franz Schmidt was a composer, pianist, cellist, and conductor. His extensive musical output includes four symphonies, two operas, the oratorio "The Book with Seven Seals," concertante pieces for piano and orchestra, chamber music, and organ works. Schmidt's unmistakable style, characterized by a radiant and optimistically combative language, positions him as the last significant representative of the hongrois style after Schubert, Liszt, and Brahms. His recent "rediscovery" has captivated audiences with a distinct tonal language bridging late Romanticism and early modernism. Paavo Järvi and the hr-Sinfonieorchester present an overwhelming new recording of all his symphonies, including vibrant live performances of all four symphonies and the renowned "Notre-Dame Intermezzo," shedding fresh light on this captivating work and the genius behind it. This exceptional 3-CD set includes liner notes featuring an introduction by Schmidt expert Adam Gellen.