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Dvorak - Symphonic Variations on an Original Theme & Czech Suite (John Eliot Gardiner, NDR-Sinfonieorchester, Deutsche Grammophon)

Johann Gottlieb Naumann was born in Dresden in 1741 and like Joseph Martin Kraus emigrated to Sweden to work at the service of King Gustavus III (the one that is murdered in Verdi´s Un Ballo in Maschera).
Like Kraus he was a very versatile composer, and excelled in opera. He composed Sweden´s "national" opera "Gustaf Wasa" in 1786, on one of Sweden´s greatest heroes.
You must have heard of Betulia Liberata because the very young Mozart composed an oratorio on the same libretto when he was merely 15, but here the ever enterprising CPO label gives us the almost forgotten Naumann version.
The recording is excellent, and it´s a great luxury to have the beautiful voice of French soprano Salomé Haller among the very competent singers.
This is perhaps not an important rediscovery, but it still is good to have it.

C.P.E. Bach - Symphonies Wq.183 No.1-No.4 (Gustav Leonhardt, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Virgin Classics)

Sibelius - Symphony No.6 (Lorin Maazel, Wiener Philharmoniker, London)

Roussel - Symphony No.3 (Charles Dutoit, Orchestre National de France, Erato)

Jose Echenique wrote:

I know that you are a busy man so I can never quite figure out how you have the time to research all of this (obscure?) music?!?!

Jared wrote:

A "must have" recording for any collection!

bombasticDarren wrote:

I actually thought that I had that one in my collection but when I checked I found that not to be the case....I must rectify that!

On first listen this work felt that it was slow to start and then it gradually builds up momentum. This one may require the most work on my behalf of the three operas so far.