BaL 4.01.14 - Schumann's Symphony no. 1 in B flat "Spring"

[visualnickmos]

Ivan March's review of 1&3 is in Gramophone 9/87, and he's.... very happy with it!

Thanks Jayne - so nice to get a straight and uncomplicated answer. I will have a read of it. I'm quite taken with what I've read about Bernstein's with the NYPO. He's a tough nut (LB) because his recorded output seems to blow hot and cold - sometimes 'great' and sometimes 'oh, dear'

[richardfinegold]

Wow! That was my first encounter with this work, but on an old, early DECCA LP (with a yellow/orange label) containing just the one work: Side One for the first two movements with the last two on Side Two. It was in the school Music library and I borrowed it one Half-Term holiday in about 1975.

My first exposure was the Szell set, reissued on a Columbia budget label. It had very nasty compressed sonics, which perhaps negatively impacts Schumann's orchestrations more than some other composers. I didn't explore this part of Schumann's output for a while due to the negative first impression. Kubelik's Bavarian RSO cycle was my second attempt and greatly improved my appreciation (along with the concert performances). Then a friend gave me the Paray lps, which are now battered beyond playability but really lightened up Schumann's textures for me. When the Szell set was reissued in CD that proved to be a revelation as well (I'm listening to the Scherzo of 1 as I type this).

[cloughie]

The Decca Eclipse LP from 1974 has a photograph of a Jacobean bed in the Crimson Room at Montacute House in Somerset. Not sure what it has got to do with Schumann but it's a striking picture anyway.

I also had another Decca Eclipse LP of the Schumann 'Spring' with Furtwängler and the VPO in a live 1951 Munich concert at around the same time. The Bruckner 4 was in part two and was on another Decca Eclipse.

My Krips was on Ace Of Diamonds - Does my memory serve me falsely or was the opening sound different to what is now the norm?

[mikealdren]

My Krips was on Ace Of Diamonds - Does my memory serve me falsely or was the opening sound different to what is now the norm?

IIRC Schumann wrote the opening chords outside the range of the horn so they are altered nowadays, perhaps Krips used a different version?

Just checked online:
In the opening, the ‘g’ and ‘a’ in the last measure cannot be played on natural trumpets at all, and can only be played on horns by ‘cupping’—i.e., sticking the hand into the bell of the horn, a kind of jerry-rigged valve. However, the sound is considerably muffled, not the best sonority for a fortissimo opening. Fortunately for all of us the conductor of the premiere was no less than Felix Mendelssohn, who was a much more experienced orchestrator than our boy Bob. He suggested the the passage be transposed up a third—all of the notes are of the overtone series and can therefore be played on valveless brass instruments. Mendelssohn conducted the first performance and altered it.

Mike

[Roehre]

IIRC Schumann wrote the opening chords outside the range of the horn so they are altered nowadays, perhaps Krips used a different version?

Just checked online:
In the opening, the ‘g’ and ‘a’ in the last measure cannot be played on natural trumpets at all, and can only be played on horns by ‘cupping’—i.e., sticking the hand into the bell of the horn, a kind of jerry-rigged valve. However, the sound is considerably muffled, not the best sonority for a fortissimo opening. Fortunately for all of us the conductor of the premiere was no less than Felix Mendelssohn, who was a much more experienced orchestrator than our boy Bob. He suggested the the passage be transposed up a third—all of the notes are of the overtone series and can therefore be played on valveless brass instruments. Mendelssohn conducted the first performance and altered it.

Mike

I don't know the Krips, but I seem to recall comments re Solti's "Spring" that (at that time, mid 1970s) this was the first recording using the horns in the pitch Schumann originally intended.

[cloughie]

I don't know the Krips, but I seem to recall comments re Solti's "Spring" that (at that time, mid 1970s) this was the first recording using the horns in the pitch Schumann originally intended.

I think that answers my question - Solti's was the second Spring I purchased and I remember the opening sounding different to Krips. Thank you Roehre.

[verismissimo]

... I have "issues" with JEGgers in some German repertoire...

Bach...?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Bach...?

Yeh; 'fraid so. I've been playing his DG recording of the Christmas Oratorio over the past week or so, and, whilst there is much to admire, I do find his way with this Music (and Bach generally) a little too brusque. I prefer the gentler, more playful recordings by Christophers and Suzuki.

[LeMartinPecheur]

A trip to Exeter today has added to my previous Karajan (LP) and Klemperer (CD) versions a good ol' CBS Classics LP of Szell in 1 and 3. A fair enough buy at one squid I trust... If not, sheer naked profiteering by Hospicecare

[Alison]

Hope we hear something of the new Holliger version: very tempted to take a punt on this.

[gradus]

Having heard Sawallisch in the Schumann fourth sym a few days ago I expect any version under his direction to be first rate, ditto HvK however the version dearest to me is Armin Jordan and the Swiss Romande orchestra. Wonder if it'll even get a mention.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Schumann-Roy...owski+schumann

My apologies for doubting you. I really could not locate it.

[BBMmk2]

Schumann, not one of my favourites but there are some of his works that I do rather like, under certain conductors.

[Barbirollians]

The Furtwangler from 1951 is really rather special if you have not heard it.

[verismissimo]

Schumann, not one of my favourites but there are some of his works that I do rather like, under certain conductors.

Mystery wrapped in an enigma, bbm.