OTHMAR SCHOECK (1886-1957): Nachhall for Baritone and Orchestra, Op. 70, ARTHUR HONEGGER (1892-1955): Symphony No. 4 "Deliciae Basilienses", CRISTÓBAL HALFFTER (b.1930): Tiento del primer tono y batalla imperial for Orchestra.

Description: All three of these works were commissioned by Paul Sacher for his Basel Chamber Orchestra but the two which naturally concern us are the first two listed above. The Schoeck is a late (1955) song cycle setting texts by Lenau (all but one, at least) on the melancholy theme of wandering and the longing for home. A large orchestra is used generally in chamber-fashion, saving maximum impact for critical points in the cycle; largely late Romantic in style, it's less overtly lyrical than Mahler, whom you might at first think of given the parts Nachhall is constructed from. Halffter's is an 80th birthday present for Sacher (1986) and uses Spanish elements - a tiento by Cabezón and the Batalla imperial by Cabanilles. Completely tonal, very approachable, it begins like a serious organ prelude and bursts into celebration with the battle-representation. German texts. Jun Mo Yang (baritone), Lübeck Philharmonic Orchestra; Roman Brogli-Sacher. SACD hybrid