BaL 3.10.20 - Schumann: Symphony no. 3 "Rhenish"

[BBMmk2]

I’m looking for a couple of decent sets of Schumann Symphonies.

I just realised I have Gardiner’s set! Doh!

[MickyD]

There's an excellent survey of the Schumann 3rd by Geraint Lewis in Gramophone Collection, 10/2012.

No Ticciati or YNS or Holliger of course and sadly overlooks Zinman, but very good on the historical, biographical and musical background and with an intriguing Historical/Mainstream/Period Instrument shortlist and final choice....

Does he mention the Hanover Band/Goodman set of symphonies for RCA? I have it in my collection but don't think it has made it into the list here. I seem to remember Jayne mentioning it some time ago.

[Bryn]

Does he mention the Hanover Band/Goodman set of symphonies for RCA? I have it in my collection but don't think it has made it into the list here. I seem to remember Jayne mentioning it some time ago.

The "Search Tread" facility can be useful in such circumstances. A search for "Goodman" brings up several 'hits', starting with http://www.for3.org/forums/showthrea...282#post809282

[LMcD]

I’m looking for a couple of decent sets of Schumann Symphonies.

I just realised I have Gardiner’s set! Doh!

Temporarily out of stock on Amazon, but well worth considering perhaps, or possibly available elsewhere: Kubelik's set on Sony with the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra. I recently acquired Disc 1 and am very impressed.

[jayne lee wilson]

Does he mention the Hanover Band/Goodman set of symphonies for RCA? I have it in my collection but don't think it has made it into the list here. I seem to remember Jayne mentioning it some time ago.

Sadly no - possibly down to its patchy availability on disc - still doesn't seem to be on Qobuz even now. Still very much a favourite here!

The 2012 shortlist was:

Historical: LPO/Boult (1956, FirstHand)
Mainstream: Berlin Phil/Kubelik (DG)
Period Instrument: ORR/JEG (Archiv)

Final choice COE/Harnoncourt....

All of these are wellknown here, admired and loved at various times in my listening life... (the Boult will really startle you if you've not heard it before, one of the very quickest on record!)

[Richard Barrett]

All of these are wellknown here, admired and loved at various times in my listening life... (the Boult will really startle you if you've not hear it before, one of the very quickest on record!)

What do you think of Holliger? I listened to it yesterday evening - beautifully judged balances and timbres as you'd expect, but... I think I'm not really in sympathy with this piece at the moment. No doubt that will change over the course of time.

[Braunschlag]

‘the Boult will really startle you if you've not hear it before, one of the very quickest on record!)‘

You’re telling me! It certainly is fast. A bit on the ‘shouty’ side in recording quality but it was 1956 after all. It’s a keeper for me.

[jayne lee wilson]

What do you think of Holliger? I listened to it yesterday evening - beautifully judged balances and timbres as you'd expect, but... I think I'm not really in sympathy with this piece at the moment. No doubt that will change over the course of time.

Very little wrong with it, very well-balanced and well-recorded as you say, quite analytical, but perhaps a little too safe and MOR..? Its an enjoyable hi-res listen, well worth your streaming time, but for me it doesn't revitalise the music the way other recent sets do, e.g. YNS or Ticciati.
His cycle is probably best in the concertos, especially with Kopatchinskaja in the violin works.

[jayne lee wilson]

‘the Boult will really startle you if you've not hear it before, one of the very quickest on record!)‘

You’re telling me! It certainly is fast. A bit on the ‘shouty’ side in recording quality but it was 1956 after all. It’s a keeper for me.

A really bold choice by Geraint Lewis, a true outlier! Great to see selections like that in such a survey...

Boult, playing it like that, in 1956? ....Really gets you listening and above all thinking....

[Richard Barrett]

Very little wrong with it, very well-balanced and well-recorded as you say, quite analytical, but perhaps a little too safe and MOR..?

I guess so. I continued with the 2nd from the same set which confirmed the latter as the one of those symphonies that really gets to me, whether it's the mysterious crossreferences between the movements, or the several premonitions of Mahler, I don't really know, but it seems a much more original and affecting work than the 3rd. As I said before, I might eventually change my mind about that.

[teamsaint]

I guess so. I continued with the 2nd from the same set which confirmed the latter as the one of those symphonies that really gets to me, whether it's the mysterious crossreferences between the movements, or the several premonitions of Mahler, I don't really know, but it seems a much more original and affecting work than the 3rd. As I said before, I might eventually change my mind about that.

yes,can’t hear this work without Mahler appearing from the future. Esp in the slow movement played a certain way.( the Sinopoli way in fact) ....or the right way as some would have it....

[Nick Armstrong]

A rather good preparation for this BAL in the second of Schama’s new programmes about the Romantics:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000mmgx/the-romantics-and-us-with-simon-schama-series-1-2-the-chambers-of-the-mind

The Schumann section starts at 36:30 and runs to about 50:45.

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(David Attenborough doing a very good job reciting Wordsworth nearer the end of the programme is worth sticking around for too!)

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[BBMmk2]

A rather good preparation for this BAL in the second of Schama’s new programmes about the Romantics:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000mmgx/the-romantics-and-us-with-simon-schama-series-1-2-the-chambers-of-the-mind

The Schumann section starts at 36:30 and runs to about 50:45.

.

(David Attenborough doing a very good job reciting Wordsworth nearer the end of the programme is worth sticking around for too!)

.

Thanks for the thumbs up here!

[jayne lee wilson]

yes,can’t hear this work without Mahler appearing from the future. Esp in the slow movement played a certain way.( the Sinopoli way in fact) ....or the right way as some would have it....

Fascinating.... I don't hear the Mahler there at all (any specific e.g.s, TS or RB?)..... but maybe Mahler himself did....

I tried to imagine which Schumann Symphony might be the favourite, but - you know what? I simply couldn't....
(I'd probably choose the Violin Sonatas instead.)

Right now I would say: get to know the 4th in its 1841 and 1851 versions, and then the Mahler re-orchestration...

It may be an original way in... an entry point...or at the very least sharpen your perceptions.

[Richard Barrett]

Fascinating.... I don't hear the Mahler there at all (any specific e.g.s, TS or RB?)

Oh yes. Two examples: the inverted turn just before the end of the slow movement in Schumann is echoed in the last four notes (violas) at the end of Mahler 9; the principal motive of the second trio of Schumann's scherzo is echoed in the Rondo-Burleske of the same symphony, making its first appearance at bar 209, stated much more clearly in the first violins at bar 248 and then becoming one of the themes of the double fugue at 311, etc.