Wranitzky Symphonies Real Crowd-Pleasers

This is the eighth installment in Naxos' leisurely survey of Paul Wranitzky's orchestral works. I say "leisurely" because it hasn't been a straightforward march through the symphonies. We've been treated to overtures, ballets, and some occasional works along the way.  No complaints here!

This release features three Wrantizky symphonies, including one of his most celebrated. 

The Symphony in C minor, Op. 31 is titled "Grande sinfonie caractéristique pour la paix avec la République françoise." That is, "Grand Characteristic Symphony for Peace with the French Republic." Wranitzky wrote it in 1797. The work depicts the hope that France and Europe can achieve peace. 

In his "1812 Overture," Tchaikovsky used French and Russian anthems to represent the opposing armies.  Wranitzky anticipates this technique for portraying Napoleonic battles almost 100 years before Tchaikovsky. In this case, Wranitzky gives us English and German marches to represent the allies. The third-movement battle music rivals Tchaikovsky's in its use of percussion. Without heavy artillery, that is.

The Symphony in D major, P17 is a more typical Wranitzky symphony. Here the music isn't representational. It's abstract and laid out in the balanced, four-movement framework developed by Haydn. Audiences of the day thought Wranitzky's works rivaled those of Mozart and Haydn. I tend to agree. This is well-crafted music. 

The "Hunt Symphony" is just what the title says it is. The four movements depict a lively hunt through the forest, ending with a kill. Several composers in this era wrote hunt symphonies. All used French horns as hunting horns, blatting out fanfares over bouncing strings. Wrantizky's use of horns is a subtler. And he uses a bass drum to represent the shots from the hunters. 

It's not great art, but it is great fun. And a little better than it needed to be to satisfy his audience. 

Marek Štilec directs the Czech Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra Pardubice. This team has turned in some fine performances for the previous volumes in this series. And they don't disappoint here. The orchestra is small, but it can deliver the power of a larger ensemble when needed. And in the "Grand sinfonie," that quite often. 

Wranitzky wrote 45 symphonies. With this volume, Naxos has recorded 15. This may take a while.

Paul Wranitzky: Orchestral Works, Vol. 8
Grande sinfonie caractéristique pour la paix avec la République françoise
 Symphony in D major; Symphony in E flat major ‘Jagd-Sinfonie’
Czech Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra Pardubice; Marek Štilec, conductor
Naxos 8.574616