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

[teamsaint]

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.

I like the sound of that Grad.

If it doesn't get a mention, it can be heard here

http://wiltshire.naxosmusiclibrary.com/catalogue/item.asp?cid=825646864225

or bought used on market place for peanuts.
I'll give it a spin today I think.

[BBMmk2]

Mystery wrapped in an enigma, bbm.

Indeed, yes!! :)

[amateur51]

Well i enjoyed this BaL - I thought that Erica Jeal managed to pack a lot in, illustrated a good many recordings of sundry varitations of approach and she mentioned Boult and Norrington with some favour, so no narrowness of approach here. i've enjoyed the Zinman set and it's so nice and ... cheap

I want to hear more of the Holliger

[Barbirollians]

Who won - surely not the Zinman ?

[amateur51]

Who won - surely not the Zinman ?

That's the chap

It's not a question of being a winner - it's a recommendation, that's all.

[Barbirollians]

Well if you want to believe that Schumann is a lightweight non entity of a composer that is the set to choose. Skates over the surface of the music just as his Beethoven set does .

[amateur51]

Well if you want to believe that Schumann is a lightweight non entity of a composer that is the set to choose. Skates over the surface of the music just as his Beethoven set does .

She was only recommending Zinman's recording of symphony no.1.

If you haven't listened to the programme then you're missing out on her reasoning, no?

[Barbirollians]

She was only recommending Zinman's recording of symphony no.1.

If you haven't listened to the programme then you're missing out on her reasoning, no?

Indeed and I shall listen to it later but I have heard the performance and I did not like it !

[amateur51]

Indeed and I shall listen to it later but I have heard the performance and I did not like it !

Fairy nuff!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Well if you want to believe that Schumann is a lightweight non entity of a composer that is the set to choose. Skates over the surface of the music just as his Beethoven set does .

Miaouw (as someone once said recently).

[Barbirollians]

Not at all old bean . I just don't like his performance - indeed Zinman joins Andrew Davis and Neville Marriner in my personal Z list of conductors.

[visualnickmos]

Regardless of the "recommendation" and the reviewer's opinions, I am at this moment, thoroughly enjoying listening to Bernstein in his 1960s New York Phil recording. I adore the sheer pazaz and vitality of his set of Schumann's symphonies. After all, it is straight from the Romantic era, so a bit of lushness doesn't go amiss! It has a really great 'feel good' factor.

[Don Petter]

The 1958 Paray seems only available in the original Mercury 2CD issue of 1999 with the other symphonies (unless it's in a Big Box somewhere..). No.1 is the stand-out performance. The others (1954-6) aren't as well recorded and No.4 is in mono, but it is a very enjoyable cycle, if now a bit expensive 2ndhand...

The late 1950s/1960 Gramophone reviews of the vinyls (by TH, WSM etc) weren't exactly kind to this cycle! Various comments about a lack of affection and exaggerated staccato...
... But good fun to read in the archive. It has scrubbed up well on CD, honest!

The Mercury Paray Symphonies 1 and 4 (only) have been re-issued by Beulah as an mp3 download:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Schumann-Symphony-No/dp/B00DVDHZ10/ref=sr_shvl_album_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1373816754&sr=301-4

I think the 2CD set is nla.

[Don Petter]

Regardless of the "recommendation" and the reviewer's opinions, I am at this moment, thoroughly enjoying listening to Bernstein in his 1960s New York Phil recording. I adore the sheer pazaz and vitality of his set of Schumann's symphonies. After all, it is straight from the Romantic era, so a bit of lushness doesn't go amiss! It has a really great 'feel good' factor.

A slightly earlier set that is still a favourite of mine is the LPO/Boult on Nixa, which was reissued on CD a couple of years ago (First Hand FHR07, 3CDs including Berlioz Overtures). Was this mentioned, I wonder?

[amateur51]

A slightly earlier set that is still a favourite of mine is the LPO/Boult on Nixa, which was reissued on CD a couple of years ago (First Hand FHR07, 3CDs including Berlioz Overtures). Was this mentioned, I wonder?

Yes it was, with some appreciation