Schumann - Symphonien Nr. 1-4, Manfred Ouverture

About this set:

Orchestra: Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Conductor: James Levine
Number of discs: 2

This is a compilation re-issue of two seperately available discs.

Disc One:



"Schumann's piano music sounds best when the painist seems to be inventing the phrases on the spur of the moment. That's much harder to do with an entire orchestra, but Levine has the knack. The opening movement of his "Spring" Sym. feels as fresh and new as Schumann intended, avoiding any tendency toward romantic posturing even when the music wants to burst its seams. I wish he hadn't taken the Finale a minute slower than Bernstein, Sawallisch, and most others. At over 9 min., the movement feels too close to the tempo and spirit of the first movement. Levine needed more exhiliration here, however beautifully the music is played.

The Berlin Phil. sounds great, of course, and the 1990 sonics from DG, though a trifle shrill, are fine. Levine's Sym. #4 begins with less tension and anticipation than other readings, but he is saving himself, and by the end of the first movement a steady increase in pressure leads to a thrilling climax. He keeps up the tension from that moment on, resulting in a gripping, satisfying account, albeit without the turbulence of a Bernstein or Furtwangler. In all, if it weren't for the misjudged final movement of Sym. #1, this CD would be as great as Levine's other Schumann recordings--he is to the manner born with this composer."
Customer review on Amazon

Disc Two:



"Ever since I started buying up out-of-print recordings by James Levine, I've come to realize that for roughly 15 years, from the late Seventies through the Eighties, he was making stupendoous orchestral recordings without much notice, either from record collectors or critics. This superb CD of the Schumann Second and Third Sym. from 1988 with the Berlin Phil. is a typical example. One never sees it recommended by the Gramophone (whose web archive doesn't list any reviews of Levine's Schumann) despite the fact that these readings are head and shoulders above the Sawallisch set (EMI) routinely given as a first choice. They are ahead of Levine's mentor Szell, as well, whose Schumann sounds rigid and unfeeling by comparison.

What makes these performances so striking is their inner life. Levine has a natural feeling for the flow of Schumann's expression, using rubato, accent, and balance to achieve marvelous effects I've never heard even from noted Schumann conductors like Bernstein and Karajan. What a shame that DG has so little faith in these performances as to keep them out of print. The Berlin Phil. plays with astonishing depth of emotion and flexibility, surpassing even their work under Karajan. Only the edgy, shrill sonics when played at loud volume detract from the sheer musical delight of this CD.

For anyone who wants to hear for themselves what Levine can do in this music, BMG/Sony has reissued an earlier disc of the Second and Fourth Sym. with the Philadelphia Orch., but good as that recording is, it cannot match this one for refinement and absolute alertness to every nuaance of Schumann's score. If you can run it down, this recording is a treasure."
Customer review on Amazon


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