Louise Farrenc: Symphonies Nos. 1-3, Overtures Nos. 1 & 2 – Insula Orchestra & Laurence Equilbey

Laurence Equilbey conducts the Insula Orchestra in the first complete recording on period instruments of Louise Farrenc’s symphonies and overtures. This 2CD set expands upon the 2021 Erato release of Farrenc’s Symphonies Nos 1 and 3, adding the Symphony No 2, Overture No 1 in E minor, and Overture No 2 in E-flat Major. Farrenc (1804-75) was a prominent figure in 19th century Paris, a pioneer both as a female composer and as a symphonist in a city obsessed with opera. As Fanfare wrote in response to the recording of her Symphonies Nos 1 and 3: “It would be hard to imagine better performances, a better-sounding recording, or better advocacy for Farrenc than we receive here from Laurence Equilbey and her period-instrument chamber orchestra.”

The Third Symphony, first performed at a Conservatoire concert in 1849, is unquestionably the finest work here; as Equilbey shows, it’s a work of tremendous energy and verve…Despite a few rough edges, the Insula performances of all the pieces here demonstrate vividly how much they believe in the quality of this music too. — The Guardian, 4th May 2023, 4 out of 5 stars

The symphony “was full of engaging inventions … It’s clearly a fine piece; all it needs now is to be heard, many times.” – The Daily Telegraph