HANS GÁL (1890-1987): Symphony No. 3 in A, Op. 62, ROBERT SCHUMANN (1810-1856): Symphony No. 3 in E Flat, Op. 97.

Description: Even though the coupling will make you scream again, it's apt; Gál's Third (1951-52) is the relaxed, songful equivalent of Schumann's symphony. The solo oboe gets lovely song-like lyrical melodies in all three movements (and Mahler would have acknowledged the nearly pastoral qualities of its song in the first movement's Andantino introduction) and even the Allegro vigoroso e passionato second part of the movement is dancelike and amiable. The tempo indications of the second and third movements describe the music to a T: Andante tranquillo e placido and Allegro molto moderato. All is calm, all is cheerful and the war is, if not forgotten, assimilated into the renewing flow of life. Gorgeous stuff! NOTE: Regarding the Gál Symphony No. 2: there is some kind of problem between that conductor and orchestra and the label and the disc was never released. We can only wait... Orchestra of the Swan; Kenneth Woods.