Eschenbach: The Complete Schumann Symphonies (2 CD, FLAC)

Orchestra: NDR Symphony Orchestra
Conductor: Christoph Eschenbach
Composer: Robert Schumann
Audio CD
Number of Discs: 2
Format: FLAC (image+cue)
Label: RCA Victor
Size: 624 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes

Disc: 1
01. Symphony No. 1, Op. 38: Andante un poco maestoso, Allegro molto vivace
02. Symphony No. 1, Op. 38: Larghetto
03. Symphony No. 1, Op. 38: Scherzo: Molto vivace
04. Symphony No. 1, Op. 38: Allegro animato e grazioso
05. Symphony No. 4, Op. 120: Ziemlich langsam, Lebhaft
06. Symphony No. 4, Op. 120: Romanze: Ziemlich langsam
07. Symphony No. 4, Op. 120: Scherzo: Lebhaft
08. Symphony No. 4, Op. 120: Langsam: Lebhaft
09. Overture: Die Braut von Messina, Op. 100

Disc: 2
01. Symphony No. 2, Op. 61: Sostenuto assai: Allegro ma non troppo
02. Symphony No. 2, Op. 61: Scherzo: Allegro vivace
03. Symphony No. 2, Op. 61: Adagio espressivo
04. Symphony No. 2, Op. 61: Allegro molto vivace
05. Symphony No. 3, Op. 97: Lebhaft
06. Symphony No. 3, Op. 97: Scherzo: Sehr mabig
07. Symphony No. 3, Op. 97: Nicht schnell
08. Symphony No. 3, Op. 97: Feierlich
09. Symphony No. 3, Op. 97: Lebhaft

Quality Schumann

This is a very valuable set. I have a couple of reservations, but frankly, this is one of the few complete sets of the Schumann 4 worth having. Most conductors handle Schumann’s symphonies as if they were by Beethoven, Brahms, or Mahler. Very few seem to be able to find the elusive, magical world of this composer. Fortunately, Eschenbach is not one of those. Perhaps since he started as a pianist, he knows the real soul of Schumann, and it comes through quite gloriously in these performances. By comparison, Bernstein seems too overdramatic, Dohnanyi too grim, and Harnoncourt too dour. Szell and Kubelik get the feel right, but Eschenbach comes across as more spontaneous and warm than the former, and more energetic than the latter. The highlight of the set is the “Rhenish” Symphony (#3), which is the finest performance of the work that I have heard, perfectly balancing the textures and tempos with sensitivity and emotion, while never turning sleepy or routine. The others are almost as good, although the First Symphony is a bit less exhuberant than some. The recorded sound is good, although I would have liked it to be a shade clearer. All in all, a fine release from a conductor with very special insights into this music. Highly recommended.