BaL 2.06.18 - Schumann: Symphony no. 4 in D minor

[John Skelton]

Harnoncourt's COE cycle is a refreshingly astringent, radical view, and uses the original 1841 edition of no.4 (not many do - Kurt Masur used to favour it too)

Not as rare as it used to be, though. Of recordings I know, Gardiner does both in his set (Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique), Thomas Dausgaard (Swedish Chamber Orchestra) conducts both versions & there's an exciting set from the Hanover Band / Ray Goodman which plays the 1841 4.

[Barbirollians]

I have recently bought the Szell set for a song . Excellent performances especially the Second Symphony.

[HighlandDougie]

What a discerning choice, Barbirollians. I have (too many) Schumann cycles - from the remastered Boult via Bernstein, Kubelik, Sawallisch, Gardiner, Harnoncourt (x2 in No 4) and Dausgaard - and probably others I've forgotten about - but I always come back to Szell. There was a remastered Columbia Masters set available at one time which made them sound as if they were recorded yesterday (and a Sony SACD of 1/2 which was even better). I'm not sure if Szell did a little discreet tinkering with the orchestration or not but the performances make the music sound, well, wonderful. And the orchestral playing!

[Nick Armstrong]

What a discerning choice, Barbirollians. ... I always come back to Szell. There was a remastered Columbia Masters set available at one time which made them sound as if they were recorded yesterday (and a Sony SACD of 1/2 which was even better). I'm not sure if Szell did a little discreet tinkering with the orchestration or not but the performances make the music sound, well, wonderful. And the orchestral playing!

Thanks for reminding me that I have the Szell set, purchased having loved No 2 when Rob Cowan played it on CD Masters a year or two ago. I shall give them another spin - very special I agree, but not displacing the Sawallisch / Dresden set, which has a magic all its own (not least the sound of that orchestra ).

[teamsaint]

Has the Spring Symphony ever had BaL treatment?

[Petrushka]

Has the Spring Symphony ever had BaL treatment?

Not sure about that, ts, but outside of the complete sets I'd nominate LSO/Josef Krips. The Decca Eclipse LP coupled with the 4th was my introduction to Schumann.

[teamsaint]

Not sure about that, ts, but outside of the complete sets I'd nominate LSO/Josef Krips. The Decca Eclipse LP coupled with the 4th was my introduction to Schumann.

The Spring is a desert Island work for me. Ought to get a couple of new versions, so might give that onea try, Pet.
Thanks .

[Petrushka]

The Spring is a desert Island work for me. Ought to get a couple of new versions, so might give that onea try, Pet.
Thanks .

Available here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Brahms-Schum...schumann+krips

[richardfinegold]

I've got, on LP:

Krips/LSO (Decca)
Szell/Cleveland O (Columbia)
Mehta/VPO (Decca)
Leinsdorf/Boston SO (RCA)
Kubelik/BPO (DG)
Klemperer/Philharmonia (Columbia)

I always think Klemperer brings special insights, but if I could only have one it would probably be Szell. Szell's version is on CD and the 2010 Penguin Guide likes it, but notes a "reduced range of dynamic"; I cant say I noticed that on the LP.

I haven't heard an lp Szell 4th but I remember all the the Szell Schumann as sounding ghastly, as if they were mixed with AM radio play in the car as the intended manner of listening.

[richardfinegold]

No

[Nick Armstrong]

No

[richardfinegold]

Available versions:
VSO/Luisi
Philharmonia/MutiBergen Philharmonic Orchestra/Ceccato (arr. Mahler)
San Francisco SO/Monteux
Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra/Konwitschny
Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR/Norrington
ASMF/Marriner
Orchestre de la Suisse Romande/Jordan
RSO Stuttgart/Marriner
Kölner Rundfunk Sinfonieorchester/Vonk
LPO/Boult
Orchestra Revolutionnaire et Romantique/Gardiner (both versions)
?/Walter
Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra/Wit
Bayerische Rundfunk Sinfonieorchester/Kubelik
Dreseden Staatskapelle/Knappertsbusch
Wiener Philharmoniker, Bayerisches Staatsorcheter, NDR Sinfonieorchester/Knappertsbusch (?)
Budapest Symphony Orchestra/Vasary
New York Philharmonic Orchestra/Cantelli
London Philharmonic Orchestra/Masur
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra/Zinman
VPO/Muti
VPO/Böhm
VPO/Karajan
VPO/Solti
VPO/Bernstein
Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra/Schønwandt
Tonhalle Orchestra/David Zinman
NDR Sinfonieorchester/Wand
The Cleveland Orchestra/Szell
Northern Sinfonia/Zehetmair
Gewandhausorchester Leipzig/Chailly (inc. Mahler version)
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Nowak
BPO/Karajan
Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra/Lang-Lessing
Swedish Chamber Orchestra/Dausgaard (1841 version)
Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra/Semkow
Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra, Kurt Masur ?
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra/Foster
Deutsche Radio Philharmonie Saarbrücken Kaiserslautern/Skrowaczewski
Chamber Orchestra of Europe/Harnoncourt (1841 version)
New York Philharmonic Orchestra/Barbirolli
Robert-Schumann-Philharmonie/Beermann
BPO/Kubelik
Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Riccardo Chailly
Munich Philharmonic Orchestra/Knappertsbusch
Boston Symphony Orchestra, Charles Munch
BPO/Furtwängler
BBCSO/Monteux
Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra/Oramo
LSO/Krips x 2
Das Bayerische Staatsorchester/Sawallisch
Staatskapelle Dresden/Sawallisch
NHK Symphony Orchestra/Markl


DVD:
BBC Philharmonic/Sanderling
VPO/Bernstein
Boston SO/Leinsdorf
Symphony Orchestra of the Südwestfunk Baden-Baden/Leinsdorf

Thanks for the hard work Alpie. I was searching for a video version and Amazon didn't list two of the ones that you mentioned.

I'm listening to Karajan right now. Pretty darn good.

[verismissimo]

Thanks for the hard work Alpie. I was searching for a video version and Amazon didn't list two of the ones that you mentioned.

I'm listening to Karajan right now. Pretty darn good.

Karajan is often at his best in Schumann IMO, Richard.

[umslopogaas]

The LP version conducted by Szell is on the Columbia blue and silver stereo label, SAX 2475. My first reaction was that it would therefore be produced by Walter Legge, about whom people have written rather uncharitable things, but most agree he was an outstanding producer. However, having just dug it out I see it is in the "Epic" series. These were actually produced in the USA by Howard Scott, recorded in 1958, imported into the UK by British Columbia and published in 1963. I know nothing of Howard Scott, but merely note that it wasnt a Legge product. However, I can only repeat that from what I recall, it sounded fine. And even if Legge didnt produce it, he would have had a hand in its listing, and I dont think he would have allowed anything to be issued on his label that anyone might call "ghastly". Perhaps something went wrong during the transfer to CD?

[BBMmk2]

I have grown to like these symphonies, of Robert Schumann. I have heard them being played at this year's proms and have found that do belong to the central rep of things and have liked the way, eg, Marin Alsop and Daniel Harding have interpreted these works. As far as recordings are concerned, though I might choose JEG, as I have heard thgis over a period of time recently.