KARL GOLDMARK (1830-1915): Rustic Wedding Symphony, Op. 26, Symphony No. 2 in E Flat, Op. 35.

Description: Goldmark's most popular work - more a suite than a symphony really as its five movements deal in much local color, brilliantly orchestrated but not linked together in any way - is not lacking in recordings but this is the only currently available one of the Second (long ago [can it realy be 27 years?] the first one appeared with the Records International logo and the Marco Polo cover-design). The latter (1887) really is a symphony, in the traditional four movements and of more moderate length (31:45 here) than its sprawling cousin. Predominantly genial and pastoral in mood, it's in the tradition of Mendelssohn and Spohr and speaks a kind of Hungarian language with a German accent. Singapore Symphony Orchestra; Lan Shui. BIS SACD hybrid 1842 (Sweden) 08P004 $18.98