WDR Rundfunkchor Köln - Hausegger: Natursymphonie (2008)

The multi-channel (5.1) recording, a co-production between Westdeutscher Rundfunk and CPO, captures the fine acoustic of the Köln Philharmonie and accommodates the massive orchestral climaxes with ease while providing a spaciousness that undoubtedly enhances the lusty singing of the WDR Rundfunkchor in the finale. The important organ part is both heard and felt. Ari Rasilainen's vivid and committed performance and the superb playing of the WDR Sinfonieorchester ensure that this rare and impressive symphony is presented in the best possible light. The eight pages of Eckhardt van den Hoogen's entertaining, if somewhat discursive, booklet notes do provide helpful background information about both Hausegger and this work. If your taste leans towards Austro-German late-Romantic music and you are, perhaps, also enjoying CPO's superb on-going Weingartner series then this SACD is a must. It certainly deserves a top recommendation. -- SA_CD.net, Castor, May 2008