Years after his not very meaningfull first symphony here this interesting second by a highly intelligent composer with clear musical structures, which the score shows. Like early Beethoven in small orchestra instrumentation (2-2-2...), Weill achieves a lot of effect and unfolds his own spectrum between the Modern, Late Romanticism and his typical Klassenkampf-military sound. Beautifull solos! - Dramatically written in 1933 between his fatherland in Berlin and finished in exile Paris. He died with just 50 years in LA. after writing musicals and film scores for making a living there. The second symphony is his last work for orchestra. Wonder what style he would have developed, if there were more time for him..
I really enjoyed it! It's full of character and manages to remain genuinely symphonic whilst also drawing on Weill's cabaret style. Maybe the slow movement is a bit too long for its own good, but it's a most attractive work overall. I can't understand why the critics gave it such a panning after its first performance.
