Symphony No.2 - Paul Ben-Haim

NDR Symphony Orchestra conducted by Israel Yinon I - Molto moderato: 0:00 II - Allegretto vivace: 12:45 III - Andante affetuoso: 22:45 IV - Finale. Allegro deciso: 32:14 On 14 October 1945, Ben-Haim completed the score of Symphony No.2, his longest orchestral work. The final stages of the work on the Symphony coincided with the last months of World War II. The oppressive atmosphere of depression and fear, which prevailed at the time of composition of Symphony No.1 (1940) had gradually given way to hope. The title page of the autograph of Symphony No.2 represents a new stage in Ben-Haim’s absorption in Palestine. So far the title pages of all the works he composed in Palestine were written in French, in which he was fluent. This was a reaction against Germany. He continued to use his previous name, Frankenburger, which was still the official name in his passport. The title page of the new symphony is in English and his name appears as “P. Ben-Haim“. The symphony preserves the classic-romantic four-moveme