Composer: Franz Schubert
Orchestra: Orchestra Of The 18th Century
Conductor: Frans Brüggen
Number of Discs: 4
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Decca
Catalogue: 4680972
Release: 2006
Size: 1.07 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: cover
CD 01
Symphony No.1 in D Major, D.82
01. 1. Adagio – Allegro vivace
02. 2. Andante
03. 3. Allegro
04. 4. Allegro vivace
Symphony No.4 In C Minor, D.417 – “Tragic”
05. 1. Adagio molto – Allegro vivace
06. 2. Andante
07. 3. Menuetto (Allegro vivace)
08. 4. Allegro
CD 02
Symphony No.2 in B Flat Major, D.125
01. 1. Largo – Allegro vivace
02. 2. Andante
03. 3. Menuetto (Allegro vivace)
04. 4. Presto
Symphony No.3 in D Major, D.200
05. 1. Adagio maestoso – Allegro con brio
06. 2. Allegretto
07. 3. Menuetto (Vivace)
08. 4. Presto. Vivace
Symphony No.5 in B Flat Major, D.485
09. 1. Allegro
10. 2. Andante con moto
11. 3. Menuetto (Allegro molto)
12. 4. Allegro vivace
CD 03
Symphony No.8 in B minor, D.759 – “Unfinished”
01. 1. Allegro moderato
02. 2. Andante con moto
Symphony No.6 in C Major, D.589 – “The Little”
03. 1. Adagio – Allegro
04. 2. Andante
05. 3. Scherzo (Presto)
06. 4. Allegro moderato
CD 04
Symphony No.9 In C Major, D. 944 – “The Great”
01. 1. Andante – Allegro ma non troppo
02. 2. Andante con moto
03. 3. Scherzo (Allegro vivace)
04. 4. Allegro vivace
There have been many great recordings of Schubert’s Eighth and Ninth symphonies — one thinks immediately of the awe-inspiring Furtwängler, the heartwarming Walter, and the hard-driving Toscanini — and there have been some great recordings of Schubert’s six earlier symphonies — one thinks immediately of the glorious Böhm, the luminous Kleiber, and the fabulous Abbado — but while this set of all eight symphonies — Schubert never did more than sketch a seventh — with Frans Brüggen conducting the Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century may not match the greatest recordings of the greatest works, it often comes very, very close. Brüggen may have first made his mark as an incredibly talented recorder player, but by the time he made these recordings in the early ’90s, he had long since proved himself as a highly skillful conductor, and he is never less than completely in control of the music. Better yet, Brüggen was always a deeply understanding interpreter and his performances here have all the requisite Schubertian qualities of tender intimacy, intense lyricism, extreme drama, and unrelenting energy. But even better, the Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century is more than merely the superb early instrument ensemble Brüggen is directing; it is the superb ensemble of superlative individuals that has as much to say about the music as the conductor. Either as soloists or as a unit, the Orchestra’s phrasing, molding, and shaping are cogent, creative, and compelling — and entirely its own. While there will always be room on the shelf for Furtwängler, Walter, and Toscanini, not to mention Böhm, Kleiber, and Abbado, this set will be mandatory listening for anyone who loves Schubert’s symphonies, especially in Philips’ crisp and colorful sound.