Andrew Manze in Schumann's 2nd - tonight, 27/02/14, BBCSSO 19:30 R3 Live

[jayne lee wilson]

After giving us some outstanding Vaughn Williams in concert, and Brahms on CD, one of the most fascinating of present-day conductors tackles the Schumann 2nd tonight - always a work very revealing of the quality and character of its performers...

Attractive programme including Copland and Beethoven, do at least try to catch this Schumann.

[amcluesent]

Excellent. The acoustic in City Halls is ideal.

[richardfinegold]

After giving us some outstanding Vaughn Williams in concert, and Brahms on CD, one of the most fascinating of present-day conductors tackles the Schumann 2nd tonight - always a work very revealing of the quality and character of its performers...

Attractive programme including Copland and Beethoven, do at least try to catch this Schumann.

Is this being broadcast, Jane?

[Nick Armstrong]

Is this being broadcast, Jane?

Sure is, boss: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03w0j88

[mercia]

Excellent. The acoustic in City Halls is ideal.

That's interesting. I tuned in for the Beethoven and almost my first thought was oh dear what a dry uncompromising acoustic - but heck what do I know. The frightening timpani crescendoes/i in the Beethoven I thought were a bit OTT, but for all I know completely authentic. I really wanted to hear my favourite Schumann but fell asleep before it began

[jayne lee wilson]

I've often found this hall a bit dry and cramped on broadcasts, including the HDs stream, and this certainly didn't help the Schumann 2, where the brasses often sounded overloud...

But I'm afraid Manze's reading came across as something of a failed experiment. We were told that rotary trumpets were being used, and right from the start the principal sounded very uncomfortable and uncertain. The brass choir generally seemed rather raw and blaring (despite their sonorities promising something a little different), and there were one too many slips from the winds too...
Dynamic contrast were excitingly wide in the scherzo, but again, harsh, dry strings, overloud wind solos and little sign of a real pianissimo in the adagio had me wondering whether there was some level-manipulation going on, or was Manze driving the orchestra a little too hard? Some good moments in the finale but the emphasis was still on a raw physical excitement which produced rather crude results dynamically and tonally.

Bit of a failed experiment about it - approaching a HIPP perspective stylistically, but without really settling on an interpretation, and surprisingly untidy from this orchestra and conductor...

***

The Beethoven 3rd Concerto was far better, a very polished, disciplined and alert performance from orchestra and soloist; and a grandly moderato, almost Klempererian account of the finale had me wondering if Manze was playing with our expectations! Amusing and rewarding, anyway.

[richardfinegold]

I've often found this hall a bit dry and cramped on broadcasts, including the HDs stream, and this certainly didn't help the Schumann 2, where the brasses often sounded overloud...

But I'm afraid Manze's reading came across as something of a failed experiment. We were told that rotary trumpets were being used, and right from the start the principal sounded very uncomfortable and uncertain. The brass choir generally seemed rather raw and blaring (despite their sonorities promising something a little different), and there were one too many slips from the winds too...
Dynamic contrast were excitingly wide in the scherzo, but again, harsh, dry strings, overloud wind solos and little sign of a real pianissimo in the adagio had me wondering whether there was some level-manipulation going on, or was Manze driving the orchestra a little too hard? Some good moments in the finale but the emphasis was still on a raw physical excitement which produced rather crude results dynamically and tonally.

Bit of a failed experiment about it - approaching a HIPP perspective stylistically, but without really settling on an interpretation, and surprisingly untidy from this orchestra and conductor...

***

The Beethoven 3rd Concerto was far better, a very polished, disciplined and alert performance from orchestra and soloist; and a grandly moderato, almost Klempererian account of the finale had me wondering if Manze was playing with our expectations! Amusing and rewarding, anyway.

i had listened to a bit of the Schumann, thanks to the link the Caliban posted. I was turned off by the sonics and was wondering if it was dueto bit rate of transmission, but your opinion seems to confirm that it was inherent in the playing and the acoustic.
I was going to try to listen again--I really enjoy the Manze Brahms cycle--but I'm not sure now if I will bother.
I think that the Schumann Symphony cycle may be the hardest cycle by a Major Composer to perform well, judging by the number of well regarded Conductors that have come to grief in in this music.

[edashtav]

The Beethoven 3rd Concerto was far better, a very polished, disciplined and alert performance from orchestra and soloist; and a grandly moderato, almost Klempererian account of the finale had me wondering if Manze was playing with our expectations! Amusing and rewarding, anyway.

Agreed, Jayne. I know that the Triple Concerto is Beethoven-lite and that it doesn't often a full challenge to all of its soloists but I find it warmed-hearted and a pleasant listen after a couple of drinks. Your assessment of tonight's performance is very fair.