Franz Schmidt was “the most musical man in Vienna” – this is what Gustav Mahler had to say about his fellow composer, who, unlike him, is almost completely forgotten today. Stefan Blunier has rediscovered this late-romantic master and now with the mighty forces of the Beethoven Orchestra of Bonn presents Schmidt’s Symphony No.2 together with Richard Strauss’s Festival Prelude, composed during the same year for the opening of Vienna’s Konzerthaus.

Schmidt calls for a gigantic orchestra for his Second Symphony. However, behind it all there is a masterfully composed texture with overlapping themes and variations resulting in a cyclical work structure with a systematic logic.

By contrast, in the Festival Prelude the musical magician Richard Strauss – once again – aims at big sound. The majestic development of instrumental splendor leaves nobody unmoved.