It’s a strange thing: if I type Sergiu and then an upper-case C for the next word, I find that Celibidache has been anticipated, his strong presence on this site recognised. But this is another Romanian conductor, not so famous (or infamous) perhaps, Sergiu Comissiona (1928-2005) who was music director of the Baltimore Symphony from 1969 to 1984, during which period he recorded these excellent Mendelssohn performances, captured in sound of immediacy and clarity (Aubort & Nickrenz – Elite Recordings – expertly remastered by Clements and Walton), a ‘Scottish’ Symphony (with exposition repeat) of character and incident, energy and contemplation, ending majestically, and – released for the first time – the standard four movements from the MND music, an ethereal and exuberant ‘Overture’ that also sports a fair degree of pathos, a poised ‘Scherzo’, a warmly lyrical ‘Nocturne’, and a sprightly ‘Wedding March’. VOX-NX-3046CD will soon be followed by further Mendelssohn, the ‘Italian’ and ‘Reformation’ Symphonies, now keenly anticipated, along with whatever else may be coming from Baltimore conducted by Comissiona, which could include Alfvén, Brahms/Schoenberg, and Kodály.
Vox Audiophile – Sergiu Comissiona & Baltimore Symphony Orchestra play Mendelssohn’s ‘Scottish’ Symphony & music for A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
