The tragic death of Albéric Magnard, killed defending his home against German troops in 1914, brought a premature end to the composer’s life but not before he had completed four powerfully expressive symphonies (the Third and Fourth are on 8574082). Symphony no.1, with its strangely beautiful chorale, was first performed in 1893 but was then not heard again for a century. Symphony no.2 caused a scandal at its premiere due to its length and complexity, but in its revised version offers radiant serenity and a dazzling confidence that reveals Magnard’s true compositional voice.

This new release completes the Magnard’s symphonies recorded by the Freiburg Philharmonic Orchestra under Fabrice Bollon. The Third and Fourth Symphonies was released in September 2019 (8574082), in which ClassicsToday.com commented: ‘Bollon delivers confident, flowing performances that fully encompass the music’s wide-ranging expressive vocabulary, from the haunting modal opening of the Third Symphony, to an amazing clean and clear fugal development in the finale of the Fourth. He and the Freiburg orchestral clearly enjoy the rustic charm of the two scherzos, while the profound lyricism of the slow movements emerges naturally and songfully, without dragging.’