RICHARD WAGNER (1813-1883): Symphony in C, WWV 29, Symphony in E, WWV 35 (orch. Felix Josef von Mottl [1856-1911), Huldigungsmarsch in E Flat, WWV 97 (orch. Wagner and Joachim Raff [1822-1882]), Kaisermarsch in B Flat, WWV 104, Overture to Rienzi, WWV 49.

Description: Here's little Dickie Wagner back when he wanted to be Weber/Beethoven (C major symphony) and maybe a little Verdi (Rienzi). He was only 19 when he wrote the former (four-movements, 34-minutes) and his models were plain; one wonders what he would have done if all that evil opera stuff hadn't taken him over - what would the Wagner Symphony No. 9 sounded like? The E major symphony is from 1834 and consists only of a 13-minute first movement and half a slow movement and Dickie already sounds less like his previous models. The marches are later: 1864 for Huldigungs (for King Ludwig of Bavaria because Wagner was strapped for cash) and 1871 during the first "Kill the French" war, a rousing morale-booster like any warlike German worthy of the name should be able to crank out. Royal Scottish National Orchestra; Neeme Järvi. SACD hybrid