Search - Robert Schumann, Christoph Eschenbach, Bamberg Symphony Chorus :: Schumann: Symphonies 1-4

Warm

David Saemann | 05/16/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is Christoph Eschenbach's first recording of the Schumann Symphonies, made in Bamberg in 1990-1. He later rerecorded them in Hamburg. The Bamberg Symphony at this date was an almost ideal orchestra for Schumann. It had a honeyed sort of Central European sound, warm and gemutlichkeit, but never too heavy or wallowing. And this is all to the better, because Eschenbach is not one to rush things in Schumann. His basic tempos are moderate, and he is always willing to consider a ritard to bring out special detail. One might feel that the slow movement of the Second Symphony is just too slow, but it always is con moto and reveals much shifting texture. Eschenbach's Schumann also is never too loud, unlike Bernstein's or Solti's. The essential feeling throughout is basically meditative and dreamlike. The sound engineering emphasizes the full bodied nature of the orchestral palette, with slightly crisper sound on the second disc than the first. I think this is one of the most revealing sets of the Schumann Symphonies out there."

Nice Buy

L. Ku | New York | 06/30/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Christoph Eschenbach leads the Bamberg to good, clear readings of the Schumann cycle. The sound is as good as the playing, and are very enjoyable performances. Plus, this is also the cheapest set of the 4 symphonies I've come across."