Robert Schumann: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 3

1. Symphony No. 1 in B flat major ("Spring"), Op. 38
Composed by Robert Schumann
Performed by Silesian Philharmonic Orchestra Conducted by Karol Stryja

2. Symphony No. 3 in E flat major ("Rhenish"), Op. 97
Composed by Robert Schumann
Performed by Silesian Philharmonic Orchestra Conducted by Karol Stryja

Robert Schumann: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 3,Robert Schumann,Karol Stryja,Silesian Philharmonic Orchestra,Lydian,Classical,Romantic Symphony,Symphonic

Average customer rating: Schumann in Bite-Size Bits Schumann singing out afresh Bracing Schumann: poetry + poise + heart OK, and not the first set to dust off traditions The Finest Schumann Symphonies Collection Available

Robert Schumann: Symphonies Nos. 1-4 Manufacturer: Arte Nova Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Robert Schumann | Schumann, Robert | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Romantic | Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Similar Items: Beethoven: Complete Overtures Beethoven: Piano Concertos 3 & 4 Beethoven: The Nine Symphonies Beethoven: Triple Concerto; Septet Beethoven: Violin Concerto; Violin Romances ASIN: B0007PLKS4 Release Date: 2005-03-22

Tracks:

1. I. Andante Un Poco Maestoso
2. II. Larghetto
3. III. Scherzo: Molto Vivace
4. IV. Allegro Animato E Grazioso
5. I. Sostenuto Assai
6. II. Scherzo: Allegro Vivace
7. III. Adagio Espressivo
8. IV. Allegro Molto Vivace

Tracks:

1. I. Lebhaft
2. II. Scherzo: Sehr Massig
3. III. Nicht Schnell
4. IV. Feierlich
5. V. Finale: Lebhaft
6. I. Ziemlich Langsam
7. II. Romanze: Ziemlich Langsam
8. III. Scherzo: Lebhaft
9. IV. Langsam. Finale: Lebhaft

Album Description

"Excellence at this level serves only to renew our faith both in the vitality of the classics and in the ability of today's interpreters to triumphantly stand toe to toe with the greatest recorded documents of the past." (10/10 rating!)-CLASSICS TODAY

"In this cycle of the Symphonies with the Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra, Zinman reveals Schumann every bit as great as his friends Mendelssohn and Brahms and nearly as great as his idols Schubert and Beethoven. In Zinman's hands and as realized by the Zurich Orchestra, Schumann's First is charming and courageous, his Second is darkness and fright, his Third is awe and delight, and his Fourth is darkness to light. The Zurich Orchestra plays with a strong, warm tone and deep, radiant colors. Arte Nova's sound is richly detailed and lushly reverberant. One of the great Schumann cycles. Anyone who loves Schumann's music or German Romantic symphonies will love these discs." -ALL MUSIC GUIDE

Customer Reviews:

Schumann in Bite-Size Bits.......2006-05-18

I read the superlatives about this set and ordered it. It has very precise sound, very precise playing and it is all just so tidy and neat I can't enjoy it. The music lacks sweep, grandeur and passion. It seems to be measured out into bite-sized pieces or maybe teaspoons, a la Prufrock. Every digitized bit is precise, serially neat and easily digested, meaning the music lacks continuity and sweep - yes, sweep. I feel I am reading a book intended for a seventh-grader. I suppose one could get away with playing Haydn this way, but not Schumann. I will make the ritual recitation that I am familiar with von Karajan's set, Gardiner's, Muti's, Bernstein's second set, Szell's, Solti's, as well as Sawallisch's. Sawallisch is still my favorite, by far. Sawallisch brings you music that is voluptuous and glorious in its romanticism and accomplished musicality. I can't imagine any among the available crop of renditions making Schumann himself happier than Sawallisch's might, with the Dresden Staatskapelle - a precise but powerful instrument. Playing his set is like finding a long-lost lover. On a gorgeous spring day, full of promise and sunshine, Sawallish's Rhenish symphony takes me as far as recorded music can toward the world Schumann rendered into music. Zinman is a gifted conductor and his set is well-recorded but I don't want to play it any more. I'm glad it was not expensive.

Schumann singing out afresh.......2006-01-25

I have already had in my collection for a few years David Zinman's recording of all four Schumann Symphonies with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra on Telarc, and I thought those were just fine. They have a natural flow and balance, and a very nice kind of polish (helped by the Telarc technicians). 'Civilized' is what springs to mind, but with a touch of Romantic grandure.
Now these new recordings with the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich are maybe even finer - at least different; even more zestful, more energetic; and also more relief in the soundpicture. The balances here are somewhat shifted, mainly that instruments/instrument groups and accents are often more pronounced, which makes the music sound even more fresh and lively, more in the vein of a period instrument performance, but then played with a combination of both modern and period instruments. (Period instruments are used for: horns, trumpets, alto trombone, tenor trombone and bass trombone; violins, violas, cellos, double basses, flutes, oboes, clarinets and bassoons are modern.) The best of both worlds, surely; whoever thought this up must be a d*mn genius, for it all blends perfectly and it all sounds completely true and natural. The First or 'Spring' Symphony (maybe the high point of this cycle) has maybe never sounded so invigoratingly fresh!
This freshness of playing is surely also helped by the crisp and direct recording, which is maybe even better than for Telarc: a little clearer and a little more acoustic space around the instruments. And also, everywhere the speeds are (almost) all consistently faster. I like that; it never sounds hurried to my ears. On the contrary, to my (amateur) ears these more 'pressing' speeds underline the consistent genius of Schumann and make these works sound like the coherent masterpieces that they undoubtedly are. And at the same time Zinman and the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich invigorate the music with new energy and freshness.
This newly recorded cycle is a gem (not even considering the impossibly low price for which it sells!). I have done a long time with Zinman's earlier Baltimore set - which I still love -, and with this new addition I really will not be needing anything else for a very long time ... IMHO Schumann really is one of the greatest symphonists, and it is proved here - again - by Zinman. Simply wonderful!

Bracing Schumann: poetry + poise + heart.......2005-12-04

Anyone who has heard and appreciated Zinman's complete set of the Beethoven Symphonies with the Tonhalle Zurich, will get the point of this new issue, a complete set of the four Schumann Symphonies, again with the Tonhalle.

Zinman isn't afraid of setting tempos whose speeds are more commonly met by period instrument groups. As with the Beethoven readings, he uses newly edited sources, and plays everything to the hilt. The Tonhalle seems quite reduced in size in these recordings, such that strings zip along in an altered balance with brass and with woodwinds, compared to the older, slower, heavier performance manner most world orchestra's inherited from the nineteenth century bands (who tended to play in larger and larger halls as time passed and the middle class flocked to concerts as to social occasions).

Any past muddiness in the orchestral texture simply disappears in this edition. This clarity of texture is enhanced further with the genius of Zinman's verve. In some passages, chamber music textures are easily achieved, making you revise your opinions of Schumann's orchestral genius. Even going full tilt, Zinman keeps the touch light and lively and agile.

You feel as if you are meeting the young Schumann for the first time, especially as the First Symphony takes off. He has a glint in his eye, does this fellow. Small wonder that Clara's father realized he'd better rope off this visitor a bit around his daughters. This is the kind of Spring season that makes you want to leave the house, without a coat, finally unencumbered by winter. Let fall, all cold weather reticence, and heavy clothing. Depending on just how young you feel, this first symphony may make you want to strip down further, just to feel the Spring breezes on your skin in places where polite musical conversation isn't exposition, but falls back into a murmur, musing out loud about nothing and everything lovely in particular.

Fortunately, even with all this lightness and the reduced size of the Tonhalle, there is still enough weight to make the stronger musical points, though without the kinds of heavy, Romantic indulgence we have sometimes accepted as the norm. Indeed the alleged heaviness of Schumann's orchestrations is nowhere in evidence here. A quicksilver metamorphosis inhabits this music, and Zinman almost uniquely let it play among the high gifts of each department of the Tonhalle orchestra.

Continuing through the remaining three symphonies, Zinman just keeps making fresh magic in his performances of each of the remaining three. The second symphony's slow movement (for example) isn't the least bit ponderous, but doesn't lose one ounce of its lyrical heart in the alchemical process of its lightening. In fact, with the more transparent orchestral textures Zinman crafts with his marvelous Tonhalle players, you hear many passing moments of felicity in woodwind or string phrasing. These moments are there, too, in the older, heavier performances; but just easier to hear with Zinman. Can it be that Zinman will help you hear and re-hear your older Romantic readings of these symphonies? Seems possible, if you pay attention to the lessons he is teaching.

With the Third Symphony, Zinman manages to bring more shadow, more seriousness to phrasing. Tempos slow down, ever so slightly, so that maestoso can be conveyed, rhetorically. Zinman and band also pass the critical feierlich test in the odd movement, said to have been evoked on the occasion of a holy elevation of an archbishop at Cologne Cathedral. Throughout the horn and brass are burnished, with solos that carry drama and narrative substance. While in the first two symphonies the horns and trombones were blended more with the other brass and woodwinds, their special Solemnity is captured here, even with reduced forces. The slow movement, preceeding the feierlich one, is another miracle of musical inflection and phrasing, without for one second sounding indulgent or mannered. The spirit of chamber music is revealed in this music, every bit as much as the spirit of the symphony.

The Fourth Symphony provides a fitting conclusion to the set. I found myself wishing that Schumann had had more confidence in himself as an orchestral composer, so fetching is the music made throughout this set of four. Who wants it to end? But end it does, with Schumann setting out the ground rules for innovative cyclical form in music; lessons not lost on many of his contemporaries and descendants. As it happens, the added maestoso touches heightened in the second and third symphonies, continue into and throughout the Fourth. The tempo changes no longer seem so awkward, and a contrapuntal depth of story consistently emerges via the enabling consensus of the players.

Truly, there are other valid approaches to Schumann. I will still return to the shelf where sit older, prized red book CD performances. Sinopoli and Vienna doing the Second Symphony. Haitink and the Concertgebouw doing all four. And, can it be? Zinman and Baltimore on pre-SACD Telarc show how to play these symphonies with something like the old, burning Romance. I also listen to Solti, Kubelik, Karajan, Klemperer, Mehta - and as they become available again, James Levine with the Philadelphia Orchestra.

The nice thing is, at this price, you really don't have to do without much except maybe a few pricey Lattes, just because you purchased this set. The sound is good enough to completely get out of the way of the music, letting you hear everything Zinman and Tonhalle are doing. The hall isn't especially present, except in those larger moments when it resounds, and the venue point is made.

Five stars, stars, stars, stars. Highly recommended. Do check out the earlier Zinman with Baltimore, now newly released on midpriced Telarc. And do look out for James Levine/Philadephia as they re-appear.

OK, and not the first set to dust off traditions.......2005-09-26

This is an decent set and a good recommendation but after a few more listens I would rewrite this and downgrade it a star and a half (something you can't do when you re-edit a published review).

PRIMARILY

It's getting a bit tiresome reading reviews of new Schumann where each new entry "finally gets it right" or "reveals new and deep insights into Schumann's music" or other such rubbish. Szell's old set is great, Bernstein's first set is terrific, Paray's ancient recordings on Mercury are a revelation, and plenty think Furtwangler's Fourth is amazing. Then there's the completely unknown recent set with Florian Merz and a Dusseldorf orchestra--totally nutty and fun. There're plenty more, including Harnoncourt's readings that at times are transcendental.

Think about it. If Schumann was the incompetent, psychotic, lame-o that many paint him to have been, then why in heck did so much of his music, and especially these symphonies, stay in the repertoire for so danged long? I seriously doubt 150 years of playing "mud" (as many have described his so-called bad orchestration) would have endeared his music to too many. I seriously doubt that great conductors of previous generations couldn't have figured out how to make this music sound right; that it took a Gardiner or a Zinman to finally make sense of it.

Also, enough with the "crazy" thing. Bruckner was OCD big-time and nobody feels obliged to mention that in every review of a Bruckner symphony. Plenty of other great artists have gone bonkers and we let it go. To listen to Schumann looking endlessly for symptoms of bi-polarity is a waste of time. Sonata form is, almost inherently and by definition, "bi-polar." Exciting or emotional music is not "mania." Enough already.

[Added note: I'm bothered by the growing "hysteria" over some newer recordings that are, with reflection, competent and entertaining--like these--without being spectacular. I sense, and hopefully I'm wrong, a generation of listeners who haven't heard a lot of the old masters conducting or are, worse, avoiding them because of earlier recording technology limitations. I'm one of those grouches who argues that a grizzled German conductor who played skittle with Richard Strauss and drilled his orchestra like a Prussian officer may have had an edge--interpretation-wise--over, say, some modern 38-year-old suburbanite Julliard grad or similar who is wrapped up in a lot of PR and promotion hype. Sorry, but a wunderkind like Simon Rattle is not going to plumb the depths of Mahler as well as Bruno Walter, who was Mahler's assistant. The standard repertoire is, historically, fading fast, and with few exceptions (Shostakovich's, Britten's) there aren't many acknowledged and frequently played masterpieces after Bartok wrote the Concerto for Orchestra in the 1940s. Scary but true. So we're looking at a generation of conductors rapidly getting out of touch with the bulk of great Western art music]

The Finest Schumann Symphonies Collection Available.......2005-09-26

David Zinman keeps a low profile and aims all of his energies toward making music, and 'making music' is precisely what he accomplishes in this set of all four of Robert Schumann's symphonies. While there are other individual recordings and some complete collections of these works that have found favor with the Romantic audience, this set provides Zinman and his Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra the access to the top of the mound!

Schumann's life and work are the topics of many poets, writers, critics, and scholars and at times his melancholia and sad demise overshadow his exemplary compositions. While most accept him as one of the most important lieder composers, standing proudly beside Schubert and Hugo Wolf, his symphonies are often consider passé. But Zinman and his orchestra grandly demonstrate that far from being secondary works, these four symphonies rival the majesty and imagination of Brahms, Mendelssohn, and even Mahler and Beethoven? Heresy? Just listen to these very alive, illuminating readings of these forward looking works and hear your ears and heart change their minds.

Each of the four works stands equally, though many (as this listener) may find the treasureable Spring Symphony (No. 1) the crowning performance. Zinman favors brisk tempi, clarity of phrasing, and the rapture of the Romantic vision and the result is simply some of the finest orchestral playing and sound on recording. Add to this the inexpensive price tag for this 2 CD set and there leaves no reason not to build your library with works that deserve a prime position. The recorded sound is rich and full while delineating every detail and nuance. Highly Recommended. Grady Harp, September 05

Average customer rating:

Schumann: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 3 Manufacturer: Harmonia Mundi Fr. ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Robert Schumann | Schumann, Robert | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Romantic | Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Classical | Imports | Stores | Music ASIN: B000N6U1E6 Release Date: 2007-06-12

Tracks:

1. I Andante un poco maestoso- Allegro molto vivace
2. II Larghetto
3. III Scherzo. Molto vivace - Trios I (moto piu vivace) & II
4. IV. Finale. Allegro animato e grazioso
5. I Lebhaft (vivace) (Symphony # 3, op. 97 "Rhenish")
6. II Scherzo. Sehr massig
7. III Nicht schnell (Andante)
8. IV Feierlich (Maestoso)
9. V Finale. Lebhaft

Average customer rating:

Schumann: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 3; Manfred Overture [SACD] Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Robert Schumann | Schumann, Robert | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Romantic | Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Incidental Music | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Cleveland Orchestra | ( C ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Schumann: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 4; Weber: Oberon Overture [SACD] Dvorak Symphony No. 7 & Carnival Overture & Smetana Die Moldau / Szell, Cleveland Orchestra (SACD) Dvorák: Symphonies Nos. 8 & 9 [SACD] R. Strauss: Till Eulenspiel; Don Juan; Death & Transfiguration [SACD] Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 4; Midsummer Night's Dream; Hebrides [SACD] ASIN: B00005BC50 Release Date: 2001-04-17

Average customer rating: Superb, Exciting Performances Of These Schumann Symphonies From Zinman & Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Schumann 4 Symphonies: Im Alten Stile-Romantic Spring Fever - Deutsche Style

Schumann: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 4 Manufacturer: Telarc ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Robert Schumann | Schumann, Robert | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Romantic | Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Baltimore Symphony Orchestra | ( B ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music Similar Items: Robert Schumann: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 3 ASIN: B000003CWG Release Date: 2003-07-22

Tracks:

1. I. Andante Un Poco Maestoso - Allegro Molto Vivace
2. II. Larghetto
3. III. Scherzo : Molto Vivace; Trio I : Molto Piu Vivace; Trio II
4. IV. Allegro Animato E Grazioso
5. I. Ziemlich Langsam - Lebhaft
6. II. Romanze : Ziemlich Langsam
7. III. Scherzo : Lebhaft; Trio; Langsan
8. IV. Lebhaft

Customer Reviews:

Superb, Exciting Performances Of These Schumann Symphonies From Zinman & Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.......2007-05-29

American conductor David Zinman has often been underrated, despite having made many exceptional recordings with various recording labels, of which his most noteworthy ones include his recent Tonhalle Orchester Zurich recordings, especially of the Beethoven symphonies using the Barenreiter Edition scores. He's also a fine orchestra builder, having raised the musical excellence of both the Tonhalle Orchester Zurich, and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. Of these two fine orchestras, his more noteworthy achievement was with Baltimore, since he transformed it from a decent regional American orchestra into a first-rate ensemble worthy of ample international attention. Much of that attention is due to the superb recordings he made for Telarc, of which his two CD recordings of the four Schumann symphonies were among the reasons why fans and critics began noticing the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.

Zinman offers swift accounts of the 1st and 4th symphonies, replete with ample precise intonation from the Baltimore Symphony, especially from its winds and strings. He follows period instrument performance by emphasizing not only brisk tempi, but also lighter orchestral textures, and uses these to admirable effect, demonstrating that Schumann was a very good composer of orchestral scores. His exciting, riveting account of the 1st symphony is among the finest I have heard, taking its place alongside memorable accounts from the likes of Bernstein, Kubelik, and Sawallisch among others. If you're looking for a fine, inexpensive recording of the Schumann 1st and 4th symphonies, then you won't be disappointed.

Schumann 4 Symphonies: Im Alten Stile-Romantic.......2004-05-29

With the re-release of these performances at midprice by Telarc, conductor David Zinman has the privilege of competing with himself by way of his new recordings of all four symphonies with the Tonhalle Orchestra of Zurich. So which set is better?

Famous for their wide-frequency recordings that usually offer a large soundstage, American company Telarc need defer to no other label when it comes to recreating the orchestra in your listening room, in this case the Baltimore Symphony. This was Zinman's first recording of the four Schumann symphonies, and he gives each one a special Romantic fervor that serves the music especially well.

While it is common to hear comments about Schumann's thick-headedness as an orchestrator, the fact is these performances yield great clarity and a special inner light that glows with suitable mystical intensities. Nature was ever inspiration for the Romantic era composers, Schumann included; the inner glow of these performances arises from the sheer genius of the typically Schumannesque melodies, as well as from the expert balancing of the different orchestral departments. You never feel that strings, woodwinds, and/or brass are obscuring one another, or that high-flying Romantic gesture has fallen plodding to earth without being able to rise again.

In comparison with his new readings with the Tonhalle, Zinman takes slower tempos, and he appears to be using a larger orchestra in Baltimore. But he knows exactly what he is doing with his Baltimore players at his chosen speeds. Like an actor declaming on stage, the fact is you can speak much faster than your audience can listen; a fundamental point of theater that always makes young actors have to work to slow down, and project their lines, rather than just getting on with the play at everyday speed. Theater makes you slow down.

Similarly, Zinman knows how to project the special identity of each of these four symphonies, while always capturing that characteristic Schumann musical blend of lyricism and vigor. You realize that the Schumann symphonies can go much deeper than we often credit them, when compared to such age-mates as the Mendelssohn symphonies.

Five very bright stars for this set, then. At midprice, you can collect both versions, and not feel you are repeating yourself, so distinctive are the two Zinman sets.

Spring Fever - Deutsche Style.......2002-04-21

Schumann has a passion for 1-2 minute orchestral introductions (almost like teasers or false starts) before he gets down to business with his symphonies. But the wait is worth it as he builds the tension and finally lets loose with the opening movement. Schumann has the brilliance, energy and force of a Beethoven mixed with an affinity for unison orchestral tumbling a la Franck. Too bad he could not orchestrate! His colorations tend to hit the listener with a dull thud. Fortunately, his symphonic ideas are so monumentally wonderful that you may never notice. The opening of the Spring Symphony is all nymphs, shepherds, streams and fresh air rolled into eleven rollicking minutes. The lolling Larghetto calmly sunbathes until the Scherzo rains on the parade. The glorious Finale is all sunshine and sweetness. Symphony No. 4 switches gears into more serious territory. Excellent themes all around. Excellent performance and great sound quality. Please forgive the pallid orchestration.

Average customer rating: Solid performances, slight quirks Not the greatest symphonies,but one of my favorite cds A Good Symphony Set Great quality; some movements taken too hastily. Masur's View of Schumann's Symphonies

Robert Schumann: Symphonies Nos. 1-4 Manufacturer: Teldec ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Robert Schumann | Schumann, Robert | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Romantic | Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music London Philharmonic Orchestra | ( L ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music ASIN: B000000SOA Release Date: 1994-09-06

Tracks:

1. Sym No.1 in B flat, op. 38 'Spring': Andante un poco maestoso, Allegro molto vivace
2. Sym No.1 in B flat, op. 38 'Spring': Larghetto
3. Sym No.1 in B flat, op. 38 'Spring': Scherzo, Molto vivace
4. Sym No.1 in B flat, op. 38 'Spring': Allegro animato e grazioso
5. Sym No.4 in d, op 120: Andante con moto-Vivace
6. Sym No.4 in d, op 120: Andante
7. Sym No.4 in d, op 120: Scherzo: Presto
8. Sym No.4 in d, op 120: Loargo-Allegro vivace-Presto

Tracks:

1. Sym No.2 in C, op.61: Sostenuto assai-Un poco piu vivace Allegro, ma non troppo
2. Sym No.2 in C, op.61: Scherzo, Allegro vivace
3. Sym No.2 in C, op.61: Adagio espressivo
4. Sym No.2 in C, op.61: Allegro molto vivace
5. Sym No.3 in E flat, op.97 'Rhenish': Lebhaft
6. Sym No.3 in E flat, op.97 'Rhenish': Scherzo; Sehr masbig
7. Sym No.3 in E flat, op.97 'Rhenish': Nicht schnell
8. Sym No.3 in E flat, op.97 'Rhenish': Feirlich
9. Sym No.3 in E flat, op.97 'Rhenish': Lebhaft

Customer Reviews:

Solid performances, slight quirks.......2007-06-03

I don't seriously disagree with the other reviews of this set. I bought the set for Syms. 2 and 4 and have listened only to them.

These are OK performances but I find the quirks, compared to other performances I am used to, a bit off-putting. The main comment is the
very opening of the 2nd symphony. The famous horn solo is just different,
mostly in articulation of the phrasing. I don't know whether this is because of conductorial decision or a different version of the score. In any
case, let the potential buyer beware and listen to this track online before
buying.

Not the greatest symphonies,but one of my favorite cds.......2004-02-23

Similar to some of Beethoven's symphonies, Schumann's symphonies tend to have themes that are strongly tied with rhythmic cadence. And may be this is one reason I find myself listening to them time and time again. They're very accessible and are represented well by this recording. Although Schumann's symphonies may not have been as revolutionary as his piano sonatas, they are well worth the listening investment. Kurt Masur and the London Philharmonic Orchestra are at their usual best.

A Good Symphony Set.......2004-02-04

These recordings of the Schumann Symphonies with Kurt Masur and

the London Philharmonic on Teldec are very fine performances.

The inclusion of the 1841 version of the Fourth Symphony is a

nice choice, All the symphonies receive good performances by

Masur and the LPO, my person favorite being the First. Offered

as a Two for One set it is a very good bargin. The only complaint

I have with the set is that there are no liner notes. At least

there were not any in my copy. Other than that this is a good

set.

Great quality; some movements taken too hastily........2003-01-23

I love the symphonies of Robert Schumann. In spite of what is often said of his lack of skill in the area of orchestration it would be difficult to deny his ability to create wonderful lyrical music.

The version offered here by Mr. Masur and company is a fine recording in many respects. The performances themselves are wonderful and the recorded sound is quite crisp and ever present.

My only gripe is with the tempi. In one of my favorite movements, the adagio espressivo (Mvt 3) from the C major symphony, the piece trots along at a pace I find difficult calling adagio. This rendering is done in a matter of 8 minutes even. I have listened to versions taking as long as 11 and-a-half minutes. In my opinion the Masur performance is too fast but that's just me. If you don't own a complete set of Schumann symphonies then this set will serve you well. If you already own a set or two (or more as in my case) then pick this one up anyway on principle alone...the price is quite good.

Masur's View of Schumann's Symphonies.......2001-05-15

Without question, these are among the finest recorded performances of Schumann's symphonies. Most noteworthy is Masur's usage of the original (1841) version of Schumann's 4th Symphony in d minor. The textures are leaner, and the performance more akin to that from a chamber orchestra than a symphony orchestra. Equally compelling is Masur's reading of Schumann's 3rd Symphony. Under Masur's leadership, the London Philharmonic gives vibrant, technically perfect performances that are a far cry from the Vienna Philharmonic's exuberantly warm performances of these symphonies under Bernstein's baton. Masur's tempi are faster than Bernstein's but do not sound rushed. Anyone interested in a great set of Schumann's symphonies shouldn't overlook this set.

Average customer rating:

Schumann: Symphonies Nos. 1-4; Overtures Manufacturer: EMI Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Robert Schumann | Schumann, Robert | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Romantic | Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Overtures | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music ASIN: B000HWZARO Release Date: 2006-11-21

Tracks:

1. Die Braut Von Messina Overture Op.100
2. I: Andante Un Poco Maestoso-Allegro Molto Vivace
3. II: Larghetto
4. III: Scherzo: Molto Vivace-Trio I-Trio II
5. IV: Allegro Animato E Grazioso
6. I: Sostenuto Assai-Allegro Ma Non Troppo
7. II: Scherzo: Allegro Vivace-Trio I-Trio II
8. III: Adagio Espressivo
9. IV: Allegro Molto Vivace

Tracks:

1. Hermann Un Dorothea Overture Op.136
2. I: Lebhaft
3. II: Scherzo: Sehr Massig
4. III: Nicht Schnell
5. IV: Feierlich
6. V: Lebhaft
7. I: Ziemlich Langsam-Lebhaft - New Philharmonia Orchestra
8. II: Romanze: Ziemlich Langsam - New Philharmonia Orchestra
9. III: Scherzo: Lebhaft & Trio - New Philharmonia Orchestra
10. IV: Langsam-Lebhaft - New Philharmonia Orchestra

Average customer rating:

Schumann: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 4 Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Robert Schumann | Schumann, Robert | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Romantic | Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Cleveland Orchestra | ( C ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music ASIN: B00000DRZN Release Date: 1990-10-25

Average customer rating: Great recording

Schumann: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 3 Manufacturer: Hanssler Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Robert Schumann | Schumann, Robert | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Romantic | Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Marriner, Sir Neville | ( M ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music ASIN: B0000365MZ Release Date: 1999-10-19

Tracks:

1. Andante Un Poco Maetoso- Allegro Molto Vivace
2. Larghetto
3. Scherzo (Molto vivace)
4. Allegro Animato E Grazioso
5. Lebhaft
6. Scherzo
7. Nicht schnell
8. Feierlich
9. Lebhaft

Customer Reviews:

Great recording.......2007-07-14

This Hanssler Classic Academy Series offering is another of my favorite classical music selections, an excellent companion for long drives.

The selections of Sir Neville Marriner, conducting the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, playing Schumann Symphonies 1 and 3 were recorded on August 5 through 7 1998 in London's Henry Robert Wood Hall.

I'd wax elegant over this CD if I was adequately reminiscent of my early schooling in music appreciation. Alas, all I can say is, these are magnificent symphonies, and the performances are naturally of the sparkling quality one expects from Sir Neville.

Average customer rating: LIGHTNESS

Schumann: Symphonies Nos. 1 "Spring" & 3 "Rhenish" Manufacturer: Hanssler Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Robert Schumann | Schumann, Robert | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Romantic | Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Classical | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Schumann: Symphonies No. 2 & No. 4 Mendelssohn: Symphonies 3 & 4 Mendelssohn: Symphonies 1 & 5 Franz Schubert: Symphony in C major Mahler: Symphony No. 1 ASIN: B000BW7ZHS Release Date: 2006-03-14

Tracks:

1. I. Andante Un Poco Maestroso - Allegro Molto Vivace
2. II. Larghetto
3. III. Scherzo. Molto Vivace
4. IV. Allegro Animato E Grazioso
5. I. Lebhaft
6. II. Scherzo. Sehr Massig
7. III. Nicht Schnell
8. IV. Feierlich
9. V. Lebhaft
10. Concert Introduction By Roger Norrington
11. Concert Introduction By Roger Norrington

Album Description

This record is part of a series of live recordings which the Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra (SWR) is making every year. All are characterized by a serious attention to historical playing style, which has up to now normally been associated only with period instrument orchestras. Norrington conducts with the "pure tone" heard before the arrival of 20th century vibrato. This beautiful, warm tone was the normal sound of every orchestra from Bach's time to Mahler's. Beethoven, Schumann, Brahms and Wagner never heard a good orchestra play with vibrato!

Customer Reviews:

LIGHTNESS.......2006-06-13

Schumann's 1st (Spring) and 3rd(Rhenish) have been part of my musical listening for many years (both recorded and live performances). I, however, have always had the impression that the works were rather dense and kind of heavy. I attributed the aforesaid impression to what musical critics have said that Schumann was not a great orchestratetor. Listening to this live recording of a reduced in size and vibrato less Stuttgard Radio Symphony Orchestra led by Roger Norrington has made me truly reevaluate these two symphonies. The playing is crisp and light sounding closer to Mendelssohn (an early contemporary of Schumann) than to Mahler as they have previously sounded to me. The fast movements are delivered with a wonderful briskness and the slow movements' melodies soar and are very beautiful indeed. My feeling is that Schumann was a far better orchestrator than he is normally given credit for. That is evident in this recording which tries to recreate the sound of the orchestra that Schumann no doubt heard

If you want to hear Schumann's Spring and Rhenish symphonies in a new and wonderful "light", buy this disc. I loved it!

Average customer rating: Great but quick

Schumann: Symphonies Nos. 1 ("Spring") & 4; Konzertstück for 4 horns Manufacturer: Archiv Produktion ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Robert Schumann | Schumann, Robert | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Romantic | Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Orchestre Rivolutionnaire et Romantique | ( O ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music ASIN: B0000ALKQ0 Release Date: 2003-10-14

Tracks:

1. Allegro Molto Vivace
2. Larghetto - (Attacca:)
3. Molto Vivace
4. Allegro Animato E Grazioso
5. Ziemlich Langsam - Lebhaft - (Attacca:)
6. Romanza: Ziemlich Langsam - (Attacca:)
7. Scherzo: Lebhaft - (Attacca:)
8. Etwas Zuruckhaltend - Langsam - (Attacca:)
9. Lebhaft
10. Lebhaft
11. Romanze: Ziemlich Langsam, Doch Nicht Schleppen
12. Sehr Lebhaft

Customer Reviews:

Great but quick.......2007-04-11

The music on this CD is well played, but the conductor must have been in a hurry. I have another recording of the First Symphony, and two of the horm piece. Both are considerably shorter in this version. Music is however very crisp and well performed. Like it.

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