Composer: Robert Schumann, Gustav Mahler
Orchestra: ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra
Conductor: Marin Alsop
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Naxos
Catalogue: 8574430
Release: 2023
Size: 1.05 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
Symphony No. 3 in E-flat Major, Op. 97 “Rhenish”
01. I. Lebhaft
02. II. Scherzo. Sehr mäßig
03. III. Nicht schnell
04. IV. Feierlich
05. V. Lebhaft
Symphony No. 4 in D Minor, Op. 120 “Clara Symphonie”
06. I. Ziemlich langsam – Lebhaft
07. II. Romanze. Ziemlich langsam
08. III. Scherzo. Lebhaft
09. IV. Langsam – Lebhaft
Robert Schumann’s Fourth Symphony was initially conceived not long after the success of the First, but the dramatic original single-movement version confused audiences, and substantial revisions resulted in the eloquent masterpiece we hear today. This and the Third Symphony owe a great deal to Beethoven, with the ‘Rhenish’ sharing much of the joy and effervescence of the ‘Pastoral’ Symphony. Gustav Mahler’s subtle re-orchestrations were made in the light of instrumental innovations and the increase in size of the symphony orchestra towards the beginning of the 20th century, making them ideal for performance today. This release completes Naxos’ edition of Schumann’s symphonies re-orchestrated by Mahler, with volume 1 appearing in October 2022 (8.574429). Mahler’s gentle revisions provide models of tasteful modification that are suited to the larger orchestras of today, but there are surprisingly few recordings of these Mahler re-orchestrations available.