Casella Symphony No.2 1/5

Casella knew Mahler and endevoured to get Mahler's symphonies performed. There are moments in this symphony of stylistic resemblances to Mahler's symphonies. Most notibly in the last movement there are resemblances to Mahler's Seventh Symphony. If you like Mahler you should take to this symphony with great ease. This is a Chandos recording. Naxos is in the process of recording all of Casella's symphonies and this work and his First Symphony are available. Personally I think the acoustics are better in the Chandos recording but interpretively the critics seem to think that the Naxos recording is better. In any case, please give this work a hearing.....it will not hurt your ears.

Discover!

PS...Upon purchasing the Chandos recording, I discovered a definite link between the last movement of Casella's Second and the last movement of Mahler's Third Symphony. In my opinion both recordings are flawed. The Chandos recording is spectacular(organ and bells....wow!) but fails to bring out the gritty Mahlerian textures. The Naxos recording brings out the Mahlerian textures but the sound stinks(I get the idea that the Rome Orchestra is an amateur ensemble) probably due to lousy sound engineering! I suggest purchasing both interpretations or wait until another label records this work. The CPO label has just released a recording of Casella's Third Symphony. It received high praise from the critics, so let's hope CPO will record this fine work!