A Weighty Schumann Set
Ryan Kouroukis | Toronto, Ontario Canada | 07/01/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Klemperer makes Schumann Grand, Monumental and Unsentimental!
As great as this set is, I wouldn't recommend it as definitive.
Karajan's set is THE ONE. For Klemperer fans this is a must because he brings a lot of power and authoratative architecture to Schumann's symphonies. Some critics (like in the penguin guide) have put down this quite a bit...they're very wrong. I have heard many recordings of these symphonies and can tell you that you will never hear a more heavy 1st symphony...interestingly enough the 2nd is mysterious and compelling(I've never heard a 2nd quite like it!), the 3rd is vast and detatched, and 4th is so firey and intense that it's hard to think that Klemperer had that in him! The more I listen to this set, the more I love the music and Klemperer and Schumann! Enthusiastically and Highly Recommended. KARAJAN AND KLEMPERER FOR SCHUMANN....ALL THE WAY!!!"