Slovak State Philharmonic; Urs Schneider - Joachim Raff: Symphony No. 8 'Fruohlingsklange'; Symphony No. 9 'Im Sommer'

Joachim Raffis 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, Fruhlingsklange, 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.