Hans Gál: Symphony No. 2 / Schubert: Symphony No. 9

Hans Gál & Franz Schubert • Royal Northern Sinfonia; Thomas Zehetmair (conductor)

About this release

Continuing the pairing of Gál’s symphonies with Schubert masterworks, this disc couples the expansive Symphony No. 2 (1942–43) with Schubert’s monumental Ninth. Gál’s Second is cast in four movements, opening with a searching introduction that blooms into a flowing Allegro. The slow movement is an intimate serenade, the scherzo features lilting Ländler rhythms, and the finale combines contrapuntal brilliance with an exuberant coda. Thomas Zehetmair shapes the Royal Northern Sinfonia’s playing with precision and warmth, highlighting the symphony’s lyrical themes and expressive contrasts.

Where to buy or listen

• Apple Music (streaming/download)
• Avie Records release page (CD)
• Qobuz (streaming/download)

What critics said

This assessment comes from critic John Puccio’s review on Classical Candor, quoted on Kenneth Woods’s blog. Puccio emphasises the deft handling of both tranquil and energetic sections and praises the moving Adagio and buoyant finale【818669803126346†L109-L122】. Read the full excerpt on Kenneth Woods’s blog. Other listeners have noted the symphony’s defiant optimism and the Northern Sinfonia’s sensitive phrasing, underscoring the disc’s role in the ongoing Gál revival.

Further context

Written during wartime exile in Britain, Gál’s Second Symphony conveys a mood of defiant optimism. The juxtaposition with Schubert’s epic final symphony invites listeners to compare two very different approaches to scale and harmony. This recording is part of the wider project to restore Gál’s orchestral works to concert programmes.