Schubert: The Complete Symphonies, Vol. 1

Franz [Vienna] Schubert (Composer), Wolfgang Sawallisch (Conductor), Raymond Leppard (Conductor), Dresden Staatskapelle (Performer), London Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Dresden Staatskapelle
• Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra
• Conductor: Wolfgang Sawallisch, Raymond Leppard
• Composer: Franz [Vienna] Schubert
• Audio CD (October 17, 1995)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Philips
• ASIN: B0000041CW
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #77,452 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Symphony No.1 In D, D.82: 1. Adagio - Allegro vivace

2. Symphony No.1 In D, D.82: 2. Andante

3. Symphony No.1 In D, D.82: 3. Allegro

4. Symphony No.1 In D, D.82: 4. Allegro vivace

5. Symphony No.2 In B Flat, D.125: 1. Largo - Allegro vivace

6. Symphony No.2 In B Flat, D.125: 2. Andante

7. Symphony No.2 In B Flat, D.125: 3. Menuetto. Allegro vivace

8. Symphony No.2 In B Flat, D.125: 4. Presto

9. Overtures In The Italian Style: No.1 In D, D.590

10. Overtures In The Italian Style: No.2 In C, D.591

Disc: 2

1. Overture In E Minor, D.648

2. Overture In B Flat, D.470

3. Symphony No.3 In D, D.200: 1. Adagio maestoso - Allegro con brio

4. Symphony No.3 In D, D.200: 2. Allegretto

5. Symphony No.3 In D, D.200: 3. Menuetto. Vivace

6. Symphony No.3 In D, D.200: 4. Presto. Vivace

7. Symphony No.3 In C Minor, D.417 (Tragic): 1. Adagio molto - Allegro vivace

8. Symphony No.3 In C Minor, D.417 (Tragic): 2. Andante

9. Symphony No.3 In C Minor, D.417 (Tragic): 3. Menuetto. Allegro vivace

10. Symphony No.3 In C Minor, D.417 (Tragic): 4. Allegro

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sawallisch's Schubert : Passion and style par excellence !, October 4, 2002

By 

Jeffrey Lee (Asheville area, NC USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Schubert: The Complete Symphonies, Vol. 1 (Audio CD)

These are extremely fine accounts of early Schubert, played with grace and style. As fine as his Schubert set is, Karl Bohm does not match the kind of flair offered here by Sawallisch and the Staatskapelle. Additionally, the sound of the Philips discs enhances the sense of fun and pleasure exuded by these youthful gems. One repeatedly gets the sense that this is the way Schubert should be played and enjoyed. In the overtures, Raymond Leppard does not really convey the kind of charm and spirit Sawallisch does in the symphonies. It might also be that the London Philharmonic does not have this music in their blood the way the Staatskapelle does. Sawallisch easily gets five stars. Leppard, if rated separately, would get three. Bravo the Sawallisch/Staatskapelle Schubert !

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Average, October 17, 2004

By 

Larry VanDeSande - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Schubert: The Complete Symphonies, Vol. 1 (Audio CD)

Sorry to say, I cannot agree with the other reviewer on the overall excellence of this recording. I find Sawallich tends to overdo the music in its dramatic moments, a sin he commits most blatantly in the opening movement of the "Tragic" Symphony No.4. The sobriquet "tragic" seems to Sawallich to mean "fast and dramatic". To others, it indicates something much different.

There is little in anything on the second CD of this set that compares with what I've heard of the better Schubert sets by Karajan, Bohm and Abbado. The first CD is better, however. In particular, Sawallich and his Dresden forces find a youthful sweep and majesty in the Symphony No. 1 and repeat some of that flight of fancy in the Symphony No. 2.

The four overtures on this CD conducted by Raymond Leppard reinforce his reputation as a specialist in Renaissance and Baroque music and his shortcomings in early Romantic repertoire. All told, I find no lasting enjoyment value in this set and am very disappointed with it. I hoped for better than this.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Elegant early Schubert, December 19, 2005

By 

Kevin Orth - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Schubert: The Complete Symphonies, Vol. 1 (Audio CD)

This first volume of the Schubert symphonies offers classy, gorgeously played accounts by the Dresden Staatskapelle with Wolfgang Sawallisch. Other reviewers mention Walter, Beecham and Bohm and rather than dispute the merits of those magnificent conductors I would simply say that Sawallisch at his best, as he is here, is of the same standing. The sound on this disc is crisp but warm late sixties analog with plenty of ringing presence to highlight the spectacular ensemble playing of one of the great "Eastern Bloc" orchestras of the Cold War.