Symphony No. 6 (Pastoral)
Two symphonies “on the theme of natureˮ! Valid though this expression is, it nevertheless calls for quotation marks: far from being a prefiguration of the famous Pastoral, the Symphonie ‘Portrait musical de la nature’ represented a highly convincing attempt by its composer to extricate himself from programme music , 23 years before Beethoven's masterpiece! It is exciting to hear these two works recorded together for the first time by a period-instrument orchestra directed by its concertmaster, Bernhard Forck.