Composer: Robert Schumann
Orchestra: Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR
Conductor: Sir Roger Norrington
Number of Discs: 2
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: SWR Music
Catalogue: SWR19530CD
Release: 2022
Size: 602 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: cover
Symphony No. 1 in B flat major, Op. 38 ‘Spring’
01. I. Andante un poco maestoso – Allegro molto vivace
02. II. Larghetto
03. III. Scherzo. Molto vivace
04. IV. Allegro animato e grazioso
Symphony No. 3 in E flat major, Op. 97 ‘Rhenish’
04. I. Lebhaft
05. II. Scherzo. Sehr mäßig
06. III. Nicht schnell
07. IV. Feierlich
09. V. Lebhaft
10. Concert Introduction to Symphony No. 1 in B-Flat Major, Op. 38 “Spring”
11. Concert Introduction to Symphony No. 3 in E-Flat Major, Op. 97 “Rhenish”
Symphony No. 2 in C major, Op. 61
12. I. Sostenuto assai – Allegro, ma non troppo
13. II. Scherzo. Allegro vivace
14. III. Adagio espressivo
15. IV. Allegro molto vivace
Symphony No. 4 in D Minor, Op. 120 “Clara Symphonie”
16. I. Andante con moto – Allegro di molto
17. II. Romanza. Andante
18. III. Scherzo. Presto – Largo
19. IV. Finale. Allegro vivace – Stringendo sin al presto
20. Concert Introduction to Symphony No. 2 in C Major, Op. 61
21. Concert Introduction to Symphony No. 4 in D Minor, Op. 120 “Clara Symphonie”
Robert Schumann’s four symphonies represent the highs and lows of the composer’s life unlike any other of his works. They were composed between 1840 (shortly after his marriage to Clara Schumann) and 1853 (at which point his mental health problems were becoming apparent). They were a leap into the unknown for the young composer, at least as far as the first symphony is concerned; previously he had focused on piano and Lied repertoire. In the following years, Schumann’s life was a series of short, carefree episodes that alternated with considerably longer periods marked by pressing worries – recognition often gave way to criticism and rejection. These were the composer’s personal circumstances when writing the four symphonies. Roger Norrington’s artistic credo is the faithful rendition of a composer’s intentions, made all the more important here when considering both Schumann’s background and the epoch in which he lived and worked. During Norrington’s thirteen years as chief conductor of the former Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra (which merged with its sister orchestra from Baden-Baden to form the SWR Symphonieorchester in 2016), he adhered to historically informed performance practice, applying the characteristics of period style to the modern symphony orchestra.