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

[PJPJ]

No, that's the Lucerne one.

https://www.mdt.co.uk/schumann-beethoven-manfred-overture-symphony-eroica-furtwangler-audite-2cds.html

or SACD

https://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/lucerne-festival-vol-12-w-furtwaengler-special/hnum/7806144

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Well, I was wondering about that. Are the Swiss Festival Orchestra and the Lucerne Festival Orchestra one and the same?

[richardfinegold]

I’ll put a vote in for a dark horse: Paray and the Detroit SO

[jayne lee wilson]

I’ll put a vote in for a dark horse: Paray and the Detroit SO

I share your fondness for that one - the first complete Schumann cycle I ever bought, with an outstanding Stereo "Spring"... The original Mercury CD release with the lovely leafy cover.

[PJPJ]

Well, I was wondering about that. Are the Swiss Festival Orchestra and the Lucerne Festival Orchestra one and the same?

I think so - the Schumann 4 has been issued before. Here's the Audite booklet:

Audite Furtwangler Schumann 4

[visualnickmos]

I have a few Schumann symphony sets, but David Zinman and the Zurich Tonhalle is quite something - almost a revelation, and contains (of course) the fourth - which is my shout, on this one.

[BBMmk2]

I share your fondness for that one - the first complete Schumann cycle I ever bought, with an outstanding Stereo "Spring"... The original Mercury CD release with the lovely leafy cover.

Would that be on Mercury by chance? I rather like Paul Paray!

[verismissimo]

Furtwangler's BPO Schumann 4 is possibly the best ever recording of any classical music available to mankind, so it stands to reason that it has to be the best Schumann 4

This may well be the truth, Beefie.

And for years I felt that other interpretations fell well short. Eventually BPO/Karajan helped me get over that, followed by Tonhalle/Zinman, both of which are excellent - but without displacing BPO/Furtwangler in my affections.

[Beef Oven!]

Had a quick scan of the shelf and quite surprised to see how many Schumann 4s I've collected, over the years!

Furtwangler
Karajan (a few)
Masur
Haitink
Zinman
JEG
Wand
Celibidache
Nezet-Seguin
Skrowaczewski

No Sinopoli

[Beef Oven!]

This may well be the truth, Beefie.

And for years I felt that other interpretations fell well short. Eventually BPO/Karajan helped me get over that, followed by Tonhalle/Zinman, both of which are excellent - but without displacing BPO/Furtwangler in my affections.

Will be interesting to see the extent to which the Furtwangler will be considered.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

This may well be the truth, Beefie.

And for years I felt that other interpretations fell well short. Eventually BPO/Karajan helped me get over that, followed by Tonhalle/Zinman, both of which are excellent - but without displacing BPO/Furtwangler in my affections.

I'd go with that, too - Kubelik (both of 'em) and young Muti are pretty good, as well. I didn't know Leinsdorf had recorded it - that'll probably be brilliant, too!

[richardfinegold]

Would that be on Mercury by chance? I rather like Paul Paray!

It is on Mercury. I had it on lp, currently I lack a digital version. It’s available from Presto as a “Presto CD” or you can buy the whole Volume 3 of the bib box Mercury reissue

[gurnemanz]

I have some good "big" SO versions. I've done a a recap. Top versions for me are Krips/LSO in great early stereo from Decca in 1956 (fittingly coupled with a classic Schubert 9) and the live Vienna Karajan 1987, both of which I prefer to Tennstedt/BPO and Bernstein which are nonetheless well worth a listen. LPO are on good form for Masur, using the 1841 Leipzig version.
I really like the Gardiner on period instruments, preferring it to Norrington and have greatly enjoyed the Frank Beermann with the Robert-Schumann-Philharmonie which I picked up v cheaply from jpc last year. Now only download.
I had only Sawallisch on LP for many years but never upgraded and haven't played for ages.

... All of which only skims the surface of the over 100 listed options. Heaven knows how the reviewer will get to grips with that lot. I shall be out of the country.

[Pianoman]

Sawallisch for 'traditional' and Gardiner for 'period' does it for me...

[Mal]

Zinman does divide the critics! I'm also happy with Sawallisch/Dresden.