Audio CD review:
Robert Schumann, Leonard Bernstein, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra - Schumann: The 4 Symphonies

Robert Schumann, Leonard Bernstein, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra - Schumann: The 4 Symphonies

Band: Robert Schumann, Leonard Bernstein, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Title: Schumann: The 4 Symphonies Rating: Release Date: 11 February, 1997 Media: Audio CD Tracks: 1: Symphony No. 1 In B Flat Major, Op. 38 'Spring': I - Andante un poco maestoso - Allegro molto vivace 2: Symphony No. 1 In B Flat Major, Op. 38 'Spring': II - Larghetto - attacca 3: Symphony No. 1 In B Flat Major, Op. 38 'Spring': III - Scherzo: Allegro vivace 4: Symphony No. 1 In B Flat Major, Op. 38 'Spring': IV - Allegro animato e grazioso 5: Symphony No. 2 In C Major, Op. 61: I - Sostenuto assai - Allegro, ma non troppo 6: Symphony No. 2 In C Major, Op. 61: II - Scherzo: Allegro vivace 7: Symphony No. 2 In C Major, Op. 61: III - Adagio espressivo 8: Symphony No. 2 In C Major, Op. 61: IV - Allegro molto vivace 9: Symphony No. 3, op. 97 'Rhenish': 1. Lebhaft 10: Symphony No. 3, op. 97 'Rhenish': Scherzo: Sehr Maessig 11: Symphony No. 3, op. 97 'Rhenish': Nicht Schnell 12: Symphony No. 3, op. 97 'Rhenish': Feierlich - (quasi attacca:) 13: Symphony No. 3, op. 97 'Rhenish': Lebhaft 14: Symphony No. 4, op. 120: Ziemlich langsam - Lebhaft - (attacca:) 15: Symphony No. 4, op. 120: Romanze: Ziemlich Langsam - (attacca:) 16: Symphony No. 4, op. 120: Scherzo: Lebhaft - Trio - (attacca:) 17: Symphony No. 4, op. 120: Langsam - Lebhaft

Editoral Review A conductor often accused of hopeless self-indulgence, he responded intuitively to the classical aesthetic of Haydn, and no less to the early Romantic bravado of Schumann. Leonard Bernstein was full of surprises. In fact, these symphonies have never been better played or conducted than they are here. These are performances of high passion--they're either very fast or very slow--and extraordinary color and drama. Bernstein sticks faithfully to the composer's original, thick orchestrations but makes each symphony work through playing of unflagging clarity and chamber music-like balance. That this was all done live, in performances of such wide emotional range, is amazing. But amazing was what Bernstein did best. --David Hurwitz .. You can see a complete list of all Robert Schumann, Leonard Bernstein, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra discography, or go back to the Robert Schumann, Leonard Bernstein, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra tabs