A surge of recent performances and recordings has brought to the fore Kurt Weill’s achievements as a symphonic composer. A February performance at New York’s Carnegie Hall by The Knights made a strong case for Weill’s first symphony (Symphonie in einem Satz), demonstrating that it deserves just as much attention as Weill’s second symphony (Fantaisie Symphonique).

Weill composed the first symphony very early in his career, just before beginning the studies with Ferruccio Busoni that would have such a transformative effect on his art. Even so, it far transcends the category of “student work” in its sophisticated command of musical form and in the remarkable orchestral palette it employs. In a 1927 review of Weill’s output, musicologist Heinrich Strobel observed that although it still employed the stylistic devices of Romanticism, the symphony for Weill “marks the first contact with the tendencies of his time, which will become decisive for later works.”

The match with The Knights proved fortunate. The ensemble’s self-description as “a fellowship of adventurous musicians” revealed itself in the musical camaraderie and sense of adventure brought to their performance of the symphony, a work described by Kurt Gottschalk in Bachtrack as one of “broad strokes and deep, Mahlerian currents.” In his review posted on blogcritics.org, Jon Sobel enthused that this “strong performance,” led by Co-Artistic Director and Conductor Eric Jacobsen, “allowed Weill’s early flair for orchestration to shine.” Sobel continued: “Colors were sharply delineated, electric energy corralled with gusto. The chorale-like quiet section sounded especially magnetic in context, and the viola soloist acquitted himself marvelously.” In so successfully realizing Weill’s symphony, The Knights joined other chamber orchestras that have done so recently, including The Swedish Chamber Orchestra, conducted by HK Gruber (recorded on the BIS label). However, there is no evidence to suggest that Weill preferred such reduced forces, leaving the way clear for orchestras of all sizes to seek out its rewards in performance.