I cannot agree more. This was the second recording I owned, after the Inbal complete set. And, oh my God, was it a totally different approach! It soon became my favorite Schumann symphony, thanks to Giulini and no less thanks to the glorious LAPO horns and brass. What a great performance, Giulini achieves the impossible, making it light, energetic, and solid.
I brought the LP of this recording when I was a teenager -- ever since, I have been listening to other versions because I never really like Schumann and therefore want to explore more. At 58, I still have not found a better one.
Absolutely! Dave already talked about the LA Brahms 2. The Brahms 1 is equally fine, I think. And there's a great (and highly underrated) Beethoven 5 as well.
Completely agree with you about form not mattering if the tunes are great. I would add that if the inspiration and innovation are great then you can throw sonata form out the window!if you want .The interest can come in the fact that you are defying it. The glorious Schumann symphonies I’ve loved them since the first time I heard them before I knew anything about music theory and I still do We are told about the bad orchestration and construction yet all these years later they are popular as ever. I think that’s because of the spirit and the Musical imagination of the man. If the music is its great as this, those things don’t matter any more than a novel with a beginning a middle and an ending will be automatically be a masterpiece.
Thanks for this. I remember the first time I listened (really listened) to the Rhenish and feeling a kind of vertigo. Where are the downbeats? What the heck meter is it even in? That was the Solti recording with the VPO in the late 60's. I've read some critics frowning on leaning too hard on the hemiola, but to me it's what gives it -- as you say -- propulsion and interest as a theme. Spot on.
The favourite Rhenish of mine, too by far. Btw: Has anyone noticed the following problem with the sound/recording quality? In any format (Vinyl, CD, streaming) there seems a tiny bit of "flutter" to the sound. I´m afraid I can´t describe it properly but to me it sounds like an early digital recording problem where the sound is a little bit "choppy". It sounds just like the "digital watermarks" some streaming services put into the music some years ago (but it´s on the vinyl as well).Something "fluttery" and "choppy" disturbing the straight tone to something "shaky". It´s very subtle but there imo. No other early digital recording I know has this or a similar "problem".
Hey Dave, have you considered doing more “Ridiculously Underplayed” videos? I love your ones for symphonies, concertos, and symphonic poems - you could also do ones for ballets, operas, choral music, chamber music, solo piano music, etc…
I cannot agree more. This was the second recording I owned, after the Inbal complete set. And, oh my God, was it a totally different approach! It soon became my favorite Schumann symphony, thanks to Giulini and no less thanks to the glorious LAPO horns and brass. What a great performance, Giulini achieves the impossible, making it light, energetic, and solid.
I love this one too! Some say it's too slow but I enjoy it very much
I brought the LP of this recording when I was a teenager -- ever since, I have been listening to other versions because I never really like Schumann and therefore want to explore more. At 58, I still have not found a better one.
The two Giulini in America boxes (LA & Chicago) are overall, fantastic sets in their own right.
Absolutely! Dave already talked about the LA Brahms 2. The Brahms 1 is equally fine, I think. And there's a great (and highly underrated) Beethoven 5 as well.
I love this symphony, as long as I don't have to play the first trombone part.
Although, I suppose an alto might give you a better chance of playing the right notes after sitting doing nothing for 3 movements.
Last night I listened to the Thomas Dausgaard cycle with the Swedish Chamber Orchestra and got the feeling they were going a tad fast
Completely agree with you about form not mattering if the tunes are great. I would add that if the inspiration and innovation are great then you can throw sonata form out the window!if you want .The interest can come in the fact that you are defying it. The glorious Schumann symphonies I’ve loved them since the first time I heard them before I knew anything about music theory and I still do We are told about the bad orchestration and construction yet all these years later they are popular as ever. I think that’s because of the spirit and the
Musical imagination of the man. If the music is its great as this, those things don’t matter any more than a novel with a beginning a middle and an ending will be automatically be a masterpiece.
Thanks for this. I remember the first time I listened (really listened) to the Rhenish and feeling a kind of vertigo. Where are the downbeats? What the heck meter is it even in? That was the Solti recording with the VPO in the late 60's. I've read some critics frowning on leaning too hard on the hemiola, but to me it's what gives it -- as you say -- propulsion and interest as a theme. Spot on.
Great box set by Gulini. enjoy this symphony also enjoy David Zinman and the Baltimore Symphony on Telarc records .
Zinman's later, Zurich cycle is much finer.
The favourite Rhenish of mine, too by far. Btw: Has anyone noticed the following problem with the sound/recording quality? In any format (Vinyl, CD, streaming) there seems a tiny bit of "flutter" to the sound. I´m afraid I can´t describe it properly but to me it sounds like an early digital recording problem where the sound is a little bit "choppy". It sounds just like the "digital watermarks" some streaming services put into the music some years ago (but it´s on the vinyl as well).Something "fluttery" and "choppy" disturbing the straight tone to something "shaky". It´s very subtle but there imo. No other early digital recording I know has this or a similar "problem".
Sounds fine to me.
I always found it a bit comical that Schumann (of all people) said that Berlioz couldn't orchestrate his way out of a paper bag.
To be fair, that's no way to get out of a paper bag.
Wonderful review and recording! The parallel with mahler 1st is a gem!
Hey Dave, have you considered doing more “Ridiculously Underplayed” videos? I love your ones for symphonies, concertos, and symphonic poems - you could also do ones for ballets, operas, choral music, chamber music, solo piano music, etc…
I'll think about it.
Yes agreed. I have the Sawallisch.
I've never been drawn to Schumann; the Sawallisch symphonies are the first recording that changed that.