EMILIE MAYER (1812-1883): Symphony No. 4 in B Minor, Op. 4, Piano Concerto in B (Ewa Kupiec [piano], Neu Brandenburger Philharmonie; Stefan Maltsev, Sebastian Tewinkel), String Quartet in G Minor, Piano Sonata in D Minor, Tonwellen - Valse and March in A for Piano (Yang Tai [piano], Klenke Quartet).

Description: More than eight years ago we offered Mayer’s Fifth Symphony and described it as “a fiery and turbulent work befitting its key signature [F minor], very Mendelssohnian in style and worthy to be compared with the symphonies of Raff and Louise Farrenc.” Probably written around 1859-60, the Fourth, also in a minor key, fits the description 100%, and offers a lovely Romantic song-like slow movement to set off the rest of the work’s rhythmic energy and drive (Spohr came to mind also). The concerto, however, is so Mozartian in style and affect that it could have been composed in the 1790s; that’s not a bad thing, it’s just what it is and very enjoyable on its own terms. Like the pair of piano trios on cpo which we offered in June of last year (06S033), the chamber works on the second disc are as conservative as the concerto - Mozart and Beethoven with perhaps a bit of Mendelssohn. A great bargain release for collectors of late Classicism and early Romanticism.