Repertoire: The GREATEST French Symphony--Roussel No. 2

One of the best-kept secrets in the twentieth-century orchestral repertoire, Albert Roussel's Second Symphony is a dark, brooding work pierced by rays of sunshine, cloaked in pungent harmonies and vivid instrumental colors. It's also, unquestionably, a masterpiece of form, craftsmanship, and emotional expression. Still a rarity both in concert and on disc, here are its finest recordings.
Musical Examples courtesy of Ondine and Naxos Records.

[ewaldsteyn]

Thanks. All 4 Roussel's symphonies are brilliant. In fact, not just his symphonies. He was a genius and his name should have been a household name among lovers of classical music.

[Sfmonterey]

You’re right. It is great. And based on your recommendation and listening to symphonies 2 and 3, I bought the 4 cd Deneve box.

[ammcello]

I would love to hear your story of discovery with this work, and how you came to know it so well. I love this symphony. So much that I stash my cash at home between the scores of the 2nd and 3rd. I first encountered it while playing at a summer music festival as a 14 year-old student. I was completely transfixed by it, and it totally funneled my future musical path and interests. At that point it was impossible for me to find a recording of it other than the crappy cassette from our live performance, and I remember somehow learning that the Janowski on RCA was coming out. I called the record shops repeatedly to ask if they had it in stock and bought it immediately when it was released. Discovering all of his symphonies on a new fresh disc brought me so much joy, but I listened to the 2nd hundreds of times.

I have every release of this work, and it is funny to hear your perspective on the Janowski because it is the one I became first acquainted with! In comparison, I found the Eschenbach too broad when I got it a few years later. I played Bacchus with Deneve around the time he was releasing the Naxos cycle - I told him of my love for the 2nd, and he actually gave a copy of the first edit of the 2nd and asked for notes! The Martinon recording really is fabulous.

During quarantine and knowing that I will never again play this piece in orchestra 😞, I found an old 4-hand piano reduction of the symphony (old as in brown brittle pages from the 1920s) so I could play at home. Figuring out how Roussel creates such murky and specific colors and textures really is a joy. It is quite different and out of this world, even for Roussel. Thanks for taking the time to discuss such wonderful music and bringing it to people’s attention! Very valuable!

[atmobeat]

Thank you so much, Dave, for bringing up this absolutely gorgeous symphony to my attention! I will listen to the other Roussell symphonies as well.

[philscott]

All four Roussel symphonies are great. I love the divertimento aspect of 3 & 4, but there's a touch of that in the scherzo of No. 2 too. I would love to hear it live.

[ArgonautasMPB]

Got to know the symphony thanks to this video. Boy, how I do not regret it. It's absolutely fantastic. Thank you, David!

[AlexMadorsky]

Roussel’s #2 is a true masterpiece, and I agree that it is even better than the third. Aqueous and very salty is a good description. I love anchovies, maybe that’s why I love the 2nd. I also enjoy how it defies the stereotype that French music is necessarily light and FLUFFy. I love fluff on occasion, but there’s a lot of great, weighty French music too.

The Naxos big box of Roussel’s orchestral works is something everyone should have in their collection. I’m going to keep on listening and tackle the Martinon soon.

[Don-mdwn]

I bought the Naxos/Deneve box of the 4 Roussel symphonies based on your earlier video and enjoyed them all, particularly the last 3, and have the other Deneve disc with The Spider's Banquet on order. I've been listening to other French music you've done videos on via the Fremaux Icon box with his City of Birmingham Symphony recordings, including Le Cid and other ballet music by Massenet and the Bizet Symphony in C. Thanks for highlighting so much great but relatively unappreciated music from outside the Germanic core repertory; it has broadened my musical horizons.

[josephhellweg]

What a wonderful appreciation of Roussel! Thank you, Mr. Hurwitz!

[chrismcwilliams]

Thoroughly enjoyed the food metaphor! Funny stuff

[johnwright]

Enjoyed your food analogies! To stay with those I would describe Roussel’s Second Symphony as a curate’s egg! I have Deneve’s recordings of Roussel’s orchestral works and agree that the Second Symphony is underrated. It is great, if I still prefer the Third and even the Fourth. Thanks for your enlightening talk!

[alastaircornforth]

Alastair Cornforth
Thanks so much for a really interesting talk about a work which perhaps does not reveal its secrets immediately. After many years I revisited this work following your comments and now realise what I had been missing.
There's a great Naxos recording now of another great underplayed French second symphony by Vincent D' Indy. Like the Roussel this has a motto theme but this is transformed into a thrilling chorale in the finale. Would be really interesting to hear your thoughts on another French masterwork.
Thanks for all you splendid videos which have helped to make lockdown more bearable here in the UK.

[bernardohanlon]

Dave, greetings from the Penal Colonies where summer is coming to an end. Thanks for your advocacy of the R2 which I will chase down. I don't know it. I have Martinon somewhere. Needless to say your double exposition of BBBRRRUUUCCCKKKNNNEEERRR was magisterial. Best wishes, B

[barryguerrero]

I can just imagine you running down to the corner market to get Vienna Sausage and Makeral to use as your next props. That's awesome! . . . the last note of the bass motto (at the start) is a 'tritone' (augmented 4th) from its previous note. F.Y.I. . . . . I've forgotten how marvelous that middle movement is. I love Jean Martinon!

[VoceCorale]

I seriously need to revisit this symphony (and the other three as well!), possibly in a newer, fresher reading (I bought and listened to Dutoit years ago, when maybe the Eschenbach and Denève recordings didn't even exist).
Roussel is another long-time interest of mine, and another one of those (I think) composers. He's always engaging and stimulating, even in his smaller works.

[AlsoSprach_Zarathustra]

I can't disagree with you. That's a really special work. It's even more interesting because it's a transition piece, acting like a bridge between his impressionist style and the neoclassical and quirky one. Another work I would consider the best French symphony (or at least my favorite) is Magnard's splendid 4th Symphony, and curiously that work also ends quietly, though that magical and ethereal ending fits quite well I must say.

[kylejohnson]

Great talk on a rather elusive but fascinating work. Btw, when are you going to do a video on Alfredo Casella? He is one of the most criminally underrated 20th century composers imo.

[winslowrogers]

Dave - Having the company of your wonderful chats every day has been a blessing throughout the long pandemic age. There's one great composer I don't think you've touched on, though perhaps I've missed it -- Purcell. How about a session devoted to his major works with recommended recordings of each? I'd be very grateful.

[sgfnorth]

Oh my, that is just an amazing and deeply moving piece (and haunting and disturbing too). I am so glad I've heard it and that's all thanks to you Dave. Marvellous introduction to the work. I listened closely to Deneve and RSNO - taking a bit of time between movements helped. It's not dense but there is SO much in it. These talks have kept me sane as we have been lockdown in England for so long now. You don't know how much they mean to me. This one is a gem.

[jackwilmoresongs]

Albrich Magnard symphony #4 a favorite French symphony. And I like to compare Roussel's 2nd with Eduard Tubin's 2nd "Legendary".