Search - Robert Schumann, Günter Wand, NDR Orchestra :: Schumann: Symphonies No. 3 "Rhenish" & 4

Glowing Schumann readings that are really alive

Santa Fe Listener | Santa Fe, NM USA | 01/18/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It's ironic that the Gramophone, which discovered Wand and elevated so many of his performances far above their worth, semi-panned his Schumann, which tunrs out to be genial, energetic, and very appealing. The magazine described Wand as "one of the last surviving examples of the well-schooled German Kapellmeister," which takes extra words to say one thing: dull. But here he's not. The NDR orchestra was his own, and they seem very comfortable with their home conductor, applying lots of enthusiasm in every movement.



The "Rhenish" is given a round, sweet sound that isn't over-balaanced toward the strings -- horns and clarinets are particularly lively. So is the tempo -- we are almost in George Szell territory, but where Szell zips along with lean textures and a lack of rubato, Wand is flexible and affectionate as he shapes the melodic line. When I think of the most uplifting versions of this symphony, I go to Bernstein and Giulini. If Wand isn't as magnetic and exciting as the former, he makes the latter seem a bit plodding and rhetorical. In all, a lovely performance.



The Schumann Fourth has been fiddled with a lot, both by the composser, who extrensively revised the 1841 original, and those who would reorchestrate his work. But for many listeners, this piece will always be identified with Furtwangler's classic mono reading from the early Fifties (DG). Wand doesn't rise to such eloquence, but he knows what he's about. He handles the mercurial shifts of tempo and mood with a sure touch, never losing forward momentum. All the virtues found in the Rhenish are here: a rounded tone, alert playing, and enthusiastic solo work. The result isn't as fine as the Rhenish, but it's quite appealing.



As a non-fan of Wand's, I was happy to find a recording that justifiea his exaltation. If his reputation rested on these readings, I'd be a devotee, too."