Schumann Symphonies Complete Set

[Tony Halstead]

Just found this - I was looking for Haydn!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Schumann-Symphonies-Nos-1-4/dp/B007HKDVX4/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1374575559&sr=8-5&keywords=derek+solomons

Derek Solomons with The Authentic Orchestra

It's on Spotify, so I'll check it out in a while. Somewhat surprisingly, after my modest successes of tracking down recordings by David Blum, there doesn't seem to be much available by Derek Solomons. As I said, I was expecting to find Haydn.

Try this:

http://haydnhouse.com/composer.htm

Lots of Haydn/ Solomons symphonies plus Max Gobermann and Leslie Jones.

[Roehre]

Hm... don't bother, it's pretty awful.
The 'authentic' layout of the orchestra allegedly follows the Leipzig Gewandhaus practice in Mendelssohn's time of seating the 1st violins on the conductor's RIGHT so that their sound is directed into the body of the orchestra rather than towards the audience. The 2nd violins therefore sit on the conductor's LEFT so that they sound er...um... LOUDER THAN THE 1st violins.
Grotesque.
Not to mention that the cellos don't sit together as a body of instruments at all, but are randomly distributed over the whole stage.

I beg to differ. The outlay is approx the mendelsohnian one in the Gewandhaus. I found this recording and the performance very refreshing as I got that disc, sometime in the mid-1990s.

[Dave2002]

Hm... don't bother, it's pretty awful.
The 'authentic' layout of the orchestra allegedly follows the Leipzig Gewandhaus practice in Mendelssohn's time of seating the 1st violins on the conductor's RIGHT so that their sound is directed into the body of the orchestra rather than towards the audience. The 2nd violins therefore sit on the conductor's LEFT so that they sound er...um... LOUDER THAN THE 1st violins.
Grotesque.
Not to mention that the cellos don't sit together as a body of instruments at all, but are randomly distributed over the whole stage.

I'm listening to it regardless. You seem to know more about this - were you involved at all? There's some rather striking horn playing. Not strikingly bad, either - splendid in places IMO. I don't know when it was recorded - maybe not in your era.

I've also noted roehre's reply, and I do tend to agree with him that it's at least not an hour or two wasted listening to these performances. Sorry, but you've not put me off, and I might still come back with a positive recommendation. Heck, for £7.49 as a download (£7.99 at iTunes) it's not bad at all, and Spotify/Napster users can try for no extra cost. Maybe US purchasers can get it for even less - I'll check. No - sorry it's $8.99 in the US - which although cheaper than the UK, is not the great bargain that some other downloads are over there.

Sorry - one thing I didn't notice - this only contains symphonies 1 and 4. Not sure if there are a 2 and 3 lurking out there. I rather like the spaced strings, there's a lot of detail one doesn't normally hear, though it may be that the 2nds do sound louder than the 1sts!

[Arcades Project]

I prefer Dausgaard's cycle on BIS, having compared the two - he seems to me to have much more to say about the symphonies than Zacharias with his more sharply etched performances.

And for youthful-sounding vigour and tempi which don't hang about, do try Boult in good early stereo sound, and Munch for an uplifting Spring, either his early mono or later well recorded stereo releases. The latter is available from HDTT as a 24 bit transfer from a reel-to-reel tape; I found it very easy to get caught up in Munch's infectious enthusiasm.

I persist in liking Zacharias - he thinks pianistically, & gets the orchestra to respond to that (which probably makes no sense). But I have succumbed & ordered Dausgaard, so look forward to those.

The Mozart Orchestra / Abbado no. 2 (my favourite of the symphonies) is a fine performance to my ears, very touching in the slow movement. What I'd love to hear is that most Schumann obsessed of living composers, Heinz Holliger, record the 4 (a great composer conducting a great composer). He's made a very invigorating disc of Mendelssohn 3 & 4 with Musikkollegium Winterthur.

(& again I'd further concur with Waldhorn on the Hanover Band / Goodman set. That is something special).

[Roehre]

....
Sorry - one thing I didn't notice - this only contains symphonies 1 and 4. Not sure if there are a 2 and 3 lurking out there. I rather like the spaced strings, there's a lot of detail one doesn't normally hear, though it may be that the 2nds do sound louder than the 1sts!

I never have seen 2+3 with the same forces, but I don't know whether those recordings have been made (1+4 date from 1990/1991). Haven't seen them in their "Windsong" budget series either (Lambourne is the mother-company).

[PJPJ]

I persist in liking Zacharias - he thinks pianistically, & gets the orchestra to respond to that (which probably makes no sense). But I have succumbed & ordered Dausgaard, so look forward to those.

The Mozart Orchestra / Abbado no. 2 (my favourite of the symphonies) is a fine performance to my ears, very touching in the slow movement. What I'd love to hear is that most Schumann obsessed of living composers, Heinz Holliger, record the 4 (a great composer conducting a great composer). He's made a very invigorating disc of Mendelssohn 3 & 4 with Musikkollegium Winterthur.

That's the joy of having so much choice. I'll be interested to learn how you react to the Dausgaard set. I do rate Zacharias as a musician and have many of his MDG recordings which reminds me there are two more in the Mozart PC series just out.

I've had the Beermann set since it was released, and it's still wrapped up but I look forward to hearing it some day; perhaps I'll be able to spin the two Szell SACDs as well, also sitting pristine on the shelf.

[Arcades Project]

That's the joy of having so much choice. I'll be interested to learn how you react to the Dausgaard set. I do rate Zacharias as a musician and have many of his MDG recordings which reminds me there are two more in the Mozart PC series just out.

I've had the Beermann set since it was released, and it's still wrapped up but I look forward to hearing it some day; perhaps I'll be able to spin the two Szell SACDs as well, also sitting pristine on the shelf.

I'll report back . The "two more in the Mozart PC series just out" are, I think, SACD versions of two of the earliest discs originally issued as conventional CDs. Unless he's re-recorded the works, which I think unlikely. His are among my favourite modern piano recordings of the concertos (in general I prefer the fortepiano). Otherwise I like Schiff / Végh & the Angela Hewitt / Orchestra da Camera di Mantova so far issued - which I have a suspicion puts me completely beyond the pale . & the few Pollini recordings, & Pires'.

[PJPJ]

I think you're right - they are re-releases as SACD. And, as far as I'm concerned, not beyond the pale at all. I don't know the recent Hewitt recordings, but Schiff's recordings with Vegh which I've heard make for rewarding listening.

I am very taken with Zacharias' recording of the Schumann piano concertante works, also on MDG, so was surprised not be as captivated by the symphonies. I must listen again soon; sometimes recordings are slow burners..... or I just wasn't in the mood.

Have you heard Lawrence Foster's PentaTone cycle? The Czech PO sounds glorious in its home acoustic and the recordings are taken from live performances. Schumann con amore - not that well received in the press?

[Arcades Project]

I think you're right - they are re-releases as SACD. And, as far as I'm concerned, not beyond the pale at all. I don't know the recent Hewitt recordings, but Schiff's recordings with Vegh which I've heard make for rewarding listening.

I am very taken with Zacharias' recording of the Schumann piano concertante works, also on MDG, so was surprised not be as captivated by the symphonies. I must listen again soon; sometimes recordings are slow burners..... or I just wasn't in the mood.

Have you heard Lawrence Foster's PentaTone cycle? The Czech PO sounds glorious in its home acoustic and the recordings are taken from live performances. Schumann con amore - not that well received in the press?

(I thought I'd edited my previous message to remove "Otherwiseg" . Perils of posting while exhausted after making a hospital visit. I'd meant to add Pollini & Pires as Mozart pianists on modern instruments I admire. Sorry, very off-topic).

I haven't heard Lawrence Foster / Czech PO: that orchestra is a temptation in itself as is "not that well received in the press." Thanks for the suggestions PJPJ. I'm looking forward to getting to know Dausgaard first.

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

er meanwhile i have discovered that a further set i have been collecting also contains the Schumann Symphonies ...[a period of compare and contrast has now commenced] ... i have enjoyed the Gal symphonies by Kenneth Wood with the Orchestra of the Swan
and of course these are paired with Schumann Symphonies

[Barbirollians]

I find the Rhenish the weak link in his symphonies - sometimes the movement we are meant to be inspired by the cathedral can drag so - making one feel like a small child being dragged unwillingly round a museum .

Karajan I am afraid falls down for me at this point - whilst Szell makes it endlessly interesting.

[vinteuil]

Bryn's a bit pessimistic about the price http://www.amazon.co.uk/Schumann-com...humann+goodman

'Classical Cabin' at £17.99 looks OK.

... many thanks for the hint - have ordered, and it's on its way

[ - and welcome back, arcades! ]

[jayne lee wilson]

I find the Rhenish the weak link in his symphonies - sometimes the movement we are meant to be inspired by the cathedral can drag so - making one feel like a small child being dragged unwillingly round a museum .

Karajan I am afraid falls down for me at this point - whilst Szell makes it endlessly interesting.

Hey, I love the Rhenish! Ceccato/Bamberg, Harnoncourt, Dausgaard and Zinman/Tonhalle for me. For me the 4th always feels the weakest, as if it never really reached a finished, or satisfying form. And I'm still not sure if I prefer 1841 or the revision. Personal preference for the other three all very close, probably 2,3,1. But not much in it!
The end of Ceccato's 3rd is one of Bamberg's finest moments!

[MickyD]

Thanks for all the info, folks, on the Hanover Band set which I must try to acquire.

Continuing the HIP theme, Herreweghe also recorded just a couple of the symphonies for Harmonia Mundi along with what I consider to be very good performances of the Cello Concerto with Christophe Coin and the Piano Concerto with Andreas Staier. I seem to recall HM issuing these as a twofer.

[Bryn]

Herreweghe recorded all 4 Schumann Symphonies for HM. Unfortunately 2 and 4 are out of the catalogue and command crazy prices. Long overdue for a re-issue of all 4 in a double album, or even a threesome with the concertos.