GÜNTER RAPHAEL (1903-1960): Volume 4 - Symphonic Works (Historical Recordings): Smetana Suite, Op. 40 (Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra; Herbert Kegel. April 5, 1955), Jabonah. Eine Ballettsuite nach mongolischen Weisen, Op. 66 (North German Radio Symphony Orchestra; Leopold Stokowski. July 7, 1952), Sinfonia breve in D, Op. 67 (Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra; Carl Schuricht. March 14, 1952), Zoologica - Charakterstüdien, Op. 83 (Stuttgart RSO; Rolf Rheinhardt. Feb. 2, 1965).

Description: This new release of historical orchestral recordings helps the two previous cpo box-sets in convincing us that Raphael is up near the top of the list of 20th century composers who need new recordings. The Smetana Suite (1937) is just that - orchestrations of eight of the Bohemian composers Dances and Polkas while you've already heard the violin-and-piano version of the Mongolian folk-themed Jabonah on cpo. The Sinfonia breve of 1949 is a taut, muscular and powerful three-movement work which most cries out for a modern recording and the 1958 Zooligica is a late 20th century update of Saint-Saëns' Carnival of the Animals which intriguingly and delightfully uses the compositional technique which dare not speak its name (not that you'd notice).