Symphonic Prelude

The two works recorded here date from a brief period at the beginning of the 1930s. Stylistically, Karl Weigl built upon the world of sound of late romanticism with his works, which are bound to the tonal system, an aesthetic he never abandoned in favor of the more progressive movements emerging at the same time. The themes are developed and processed in various ways, constantly creating new colors and nuances, whereby Weigl's mastery of the orchestra manifests itself both in the hymnic buildup and in the restrained moments, which at some points seem almost chamber musical. During Weigl's lifetime, no performances of his third symphony and symphonic prelude took place. As with many of his larger works, these scores were discovered only decades later, in the context of renewed interest in his music. With this recording, they are now heard by the public for the first time.