Symphony No. 2 in C minor, Op. 27, "Asrael"
Josef Suk
Work background
Researched classical background
Suk began Asrael as a memorial to his teacher and father-in-law Antonin Dvorak. The death of Suk's wife Otylka during its composition changed its emotional and structural course. Five movements form two larger parts, moving through sharply contrasting orchestral writing and recurring motives. The title invokes an angel of death, but the score's development is more extensive than a simple sequence of funeral scenes.
Inspiration and creative background
The deaths of Dvorak and Otylka Sukova are explicitly documented as the symphony's memorial occasions.
Symfonie c moll op. 27 Asrael | Barenreiter Praha - hudebni nakladatelstvi
Work identity, dated event and scoring or version context for this entry. | Reviewed 2026-10-19
Josef Suk Sinfonie c-moll
Work identity, dated event and scoring or version context for this entry. | Reviewed 2026-10-19
A listening guide
Listen for recurring motives that connect the earlier movements with the two final movements written after Otylka's death.
Listening suggestions are editorial guides to the music.
Forces: Large orchestra
Composition: 1905-1906
Initially conceived after Dvorak's death; Suk expanded the memorial scope after the death of his wife Otylka.
This entry describes the musical work or cycle. Composition, premiere and publication dates describe different events. Performers and recordings can be explored through the external listening search.
Also known as: Asrael Symphony
Symfonie c moll op. 27 Asrael | Barenreiter Praha - hudebni nakladatelstvi
Work identity, dated event and scoring or version context for this entry. | Reviewed 2026-10-19
Josef Suk Sinfonie c-moll
Work identity, dated event and scoring or version context for this entry. | Reviewed 2026-10-19
Sources for this work
Symfonie c moll op. 27 Asrael | Barenreiter Praha - hudebni nakladatelstvi
Work identity, dated event and scoring or version context for this entry. | Reviewed 2026-10-19
Josef Suk Sinfonie c-moll
Work identity, dated event and scoring or version context for this entry. | Reviewed 2026-10-19
Browse by year
1960-2025. Each year contains 150 selections.