Customer Reviews

Schumann: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 4

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This CD is very interesting and beautiful. Phillipe Herreweghe, who has a repertoire from Bach to Bruckner, Kurt Weill, conducted his Orchestre de Champs Elysees, performed these symphonies very succesful. They are feel the typic deep romanticsm of Schumann, very sensitive.

The Symphony No. 2 in C major, written in a depressive period of Schumann, because of long-waiting for marry to Clara. In this music, you can notice that, Schumann was stuck to some melodies, some rhtyms, as a man who going to be mad. He was repeat some melodies again and again. It has a languish romanticism. The 4th Symphony is the most drammatic of all of the composer's symphonies. It was completed in his last period, 1851, towards to tragic end of his life. This symphony to be constitued in a single movement, written as a symphonic-fantasia. Orchestration, as usual in Schumann, not too powerful, brilliant, it is a little weak, but the music is very romantic, poetic and has a tragic mood. Especially the first movement is a drammatic opening movement, the second movement is a lyric "Romanze" which I think has a musical diolag between Robert and Clara (violoncello solo and oboe). But in Finale, there is a glorious joy, contrasts to the dark mood of beginning movements.

At this price, you can not wrong with it. If you want a new digital recording of Schumann symphonies, this CD can be your first choice.

Highly recommended.