Most Underrated, Forgotten, and Neglected Masterpieces

I'm glad, fw, that, in this thread, "anything goes" and rules are "loose".

So, if you wish to explore a composer, who is more than "forgotten" and at the same time worthy of our attention, keep note of this name: Anton Urspruch (1850-1907). Mostly, a great pianist in the tradition of Brahms and Liszt and a composer of fantastic, virtuoso, suggestive music. In the same vein, search for Mme Luise Adolpha Le Beau (1850-1927), an almost completely forgotten, definitely underrated and mostly neglected Romantic German composer in the form of Liszt, Schumann and Brahms. However, as a woman, her music is more on the delightful side of music. Two discoveries after the Pleyels (which, apparently, you have explored or you know them very well).

As for your beloved Schubert, I believe his most underrated (but definitely not neglected or forgotten) masterwork is his Mass in A flat (living in the shadow of the Great one in E flat). Check it out.

Magnus, Prokofiev is underrated, but also uneven. However, his masterpieces are unbeatable, unrivalled, second to none.

Mr. "V", you jump to incoherent and inconsequent conclusions that, eventually, bother only you!

My statements are clear and ready to read and be evaluated, not necessarily... misunderstood. (However, in an open forum, it's quite understandable).

Parla

What about Enescu's Thrid Symphony? I've been listening to it again and again recently, I think it's amazing, and I don't suppose it's that well known. Not judging by the number of recorded versions, anyway - I count two. (I have Rozhdestvensky's)

Also, many thanks for the Ligeti suggestions. Must have a look at those.

Perhaps some connection (?) with the demise of those two great exponents of 20th century British music, Vernon Handley & Richard Hickox who in turn took over the mantle from Boult, Barbirolli & Beecham. Who will do it now; Martyn Brabbins perhaps?

As the year goes by, I cannot but remember a great composer of towering proportions, who technically is not completely forgotten, or that much underrated, but his works tend to be neglected, while all (or most) of them are true masterworks. The composer is the Belgian Cesar Franck and some of his greatest masterpieces: he composed The Violin Sonata, a magnificent String Quartet and an amazing Piano Quintet. His Symphony in d minor is performed seldom, despite it is a superb symphonic work, while his almost neglected Symphonic Variations for Piano and Orchestra is a brilliant virtuosic work, let alone his second to none Organ and Piano works.

In the same league, Ernest Chausson created a smaller but equally magnificent work: his greatest, probably, is his stunning Piano Quartet, followed by his Symphony of Wagnerian proportion. Finally, in the same Belgian field, Lekeu wrote some Chamber Music masterworks, almost totally neglected and almost underrated (but not technically forgotten). 

Best wishes,

Parla

Belshazzar's Feast by Sir William Walton

This may not be quite as obscure as some of the works mentioned, however, I think it is vastly underperformed given the brilliance of the work.  I am a member of a university choir that is currently rehearsing the work for a performance in the end of April and I am just astounded by the piece everytime we are working on it.  I think the musical writing (not to mention very colorful orchestration) is particularly effective at conveying the text in a meaningful, narrative fashion- this includes embodying everything from the desparation of the Israelites in captivity in Babylon to the lavish, sinful extravagance of King Belshazzar's bacchanalian orgy to the simultaneous rejoicing and lament for Babylon's destruction in the end.  Of course the work is fiendishly difficult and requires all sorts of extra additions to the standard orchestra (a massive and competent choir, 2 antiphonal brass bands, alto sax, 2 harps, piano, and organ) and this may be a reason for the lack of performances.  While many top tier, larges professional symphonies have these resources at their disposal, smaller ensembles may not and likewise non-professional groups may find the difficulty and instrumentation prohibitive.  Nevertheless, this piece is now very much one of my favorite works of classical/orchestral music.  The music is very cinematic (Walton did go on to score several films) and to me sounds as though it could easily function as score music for one of the many Old Testament biblical epics of the mid 20th century (like Cecil B. DeMilles Ten Commandments).  Yet, the piece is perfectly suited for concert performance and there is something still intrinsically and charmingly British about the work that puts it in the same canon as pieces by Elgar, Parry, Vaughn Williams, and Britten.  All in all, a fantastic and certainly underperformed work.