Ferdinand Herold (1791-1833) is known today chiefly for the jaunty overtures to his operas, including Zampa (1831) and Le Pré aux Clercs (1832), but not the operas themselves. His influences were Paisiello, Guglielmi, and Zingarelli, all composers of what’s now known as light opera. Curiously, the overtures contrast sharply with the symphonies. The former are bubbly, glittery affairs that sparkle in a way that recalls the music of Berlioz. They’re quite good. The latter are much less exuberant and reflect the sober side of 18th and the 19th centuries, German style. Clearly Herold’s heart was in the theatre! The Orchestra Della Svizzera Italiana handles both the overtures and the symphonies very well, providing just the right verve to the theatre pieces and lending a properly dignified character (not lacking in energy, though) to the symphonies. In the Grand Scheme of Things, this music may not be terribly important, but when performed with clear affection, as here, the results still conspire to cheat the clock. A pleasant diversion.
