Niels Wilhelm Gade (1817 - 1890) was a Danish composer, conductor, violinist, organist and teacher. The 5th Symphony is in the standard 4 movements and in the recording I listened to on YouTube it was played by The Collegium Musicum of Copenhagen, conducted by Michael Schoenwand, and the solo piano was played by Amelie Malling.
It's an odd thing, a symphony which requires a solo piano. It's not really quite a true symphony then, nor is it a concerto. Gade very cleverly constructed this symphony, understanding perfectly the constraints of the form, and the solo piano part here is what is known as an 'obbligato' part. A technique used more often by composers in the Baroque era, and is something of a rarity in more recent compositions. In fact I cannot think of any other symphony which employs obbligato piano. Gade's piano part here is a virtusos piece in its own right, demanding the same techniques and proficiency as a concerto piano solo, pushing forward the orchestral development and winding its way through its thematic pulses.
The whole work is fresh and alive, vigorous and tuneful. The second movement is melodic but a little melancholic perhaps, but this is amply made up for by the lively music box style of the third movement. Despite being a Dane, this symphony is very much rooted in German Romanticism, with particular hat nods along the way to both Mendelssohn and Schumann. The first and forth movements are perfectly formed, rousing and joyous Classical Romantic fayre. There is a lovely coda to the final movement, not overly bombastic, but with just enough pomp and ceremony to make it both melodious and stirring.
Reviewer - Chris Benchley
on - 16/5/20
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