Niels Wilhelm Gade
(1817-1890)
Symphony #5 in D minor, Op. 25 (25:46)
Symphony #6 in G minor, Op. 32 (24:02)
Roland Pöntinen, piano
Stockholm Sinfonietta/Neeme Järvi
BIS CD-356
Can this be a lost Schumann piano concerto? Is it really a concerto? No, it is a fine Romantic symphony with a very prominent piano part. Gade, one of the most important Danish composers of the 19th century, was greatly influenced by Mendelssohn and, of course, Schumann. In this collection of Gade's symphonies, Symphony #5 stands out not only for its unusual inclusion of the piano, but also as a very fine example of Schumann-era composition.
Gade, wrote in almost all genres, and fortunately BIS and more recently Chandos have recorded all of his eight symphonies. Gade's string quartets are also recommended, as are his overtures.
