Hans Rott: Symphony No. 1 in E Major
Gustav Mahler: Blumine
Anton Bruckner: Symphonic Prelude in C minor

The fact that a classical music label as iconic and time-honored as Deutsche Grammophon has finally opted to release a recording featuring the symphonic music of Hans Rott (1858-1884) can certainly affirm one thing. It proves that smaller, independent labels like Profil, Acousence, CPO and Capriccio, who have previously recorded this composer's impressive Symphony No. 1 in E Major already knew something good when they saw it. It took more than a century for this symphony to receive its world premiere performance in 1989. Hans Rott studied organ under Bruckner, and while he was studying at the Conservatory, one of his classmates happened to be Gustav Mahler, which justifies the inclusion on this recording of pieces by these two composers.

In one of his recollections Gustav Mahler wrote: "He is indeed so closely related to my own being that he and I appear to be like two pieces of fruit from the same tree." That tree must have been the music of Richard Wagner, since that composer's influence looms large over their early works, but even more so within Rott's youthful symphony. In fact, the main theme (audio clip below) which opens the first movement has all the breathtaking scope of a Wagner overture or a Bruckner symphony. It has been argued many times that since Rott and Mahler were friends, studied together and by extension must have exchanged ideas, that Mahler actually used, unconsciously or not, some of Rott's motifs within his own First and Second symphonies. In fact the Scherzo movements of both their initial symphonies are very similar, but that is where the similarities end. Despite the fact that Hans Rott was admitted to the state lunatic asylum in Vienna, diagnosed with "hallucinatory persecution mania", and died of tuberculosis at the young age of 25, the overall tone of his music arguably projects a sunnier outlook, despite its sometimes abrupt mood shifts, than the music of Gustav Mahler.

Conductor Jakub Hruša, who recently released a deeply insightful recording of Mahler's Symphony No. 4, leads the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra here in a highly expressive and lovingly nuanced performance of a symphony which predates Mahler's First by about ten years, and alludes to the greatness to come had he not died so young. The Adagio movement alone illustrates a composer who could manipulate an idea to a level of highly refined finesse and dramatic power. In the booklet notes, Jakub Hruša himself admits a personal fondness for the music of Hans Rott. And I believe you will feel the same way once you hear this recording. Seriously, if you admire the music of Gustav Mahler in particular, but also the music of Anton Bruckner, Wagner and Richard Strauss, you will be amazed at the potential contained within Rott's one and only symphony. Plus the finely engineered audio recording, with the horns naturally positioned in the back, well projects the depth and scope of a large orchestra.