Search - Schumann, Bernstein, Nyp :: Symphonies 1 & 2

The most exciting Schumann 2nd on disc

Robert J. Cruce | Muskogee, OK United States | 09/16/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I waited years for the reissue of Bernstein's Schumann 2nd in a splendid digital transfer such as this. There is no lack of outstanding Schumann symphony recordings and I appreciate the work of conductors such as Wolfgang Sawallisch. But for an exhilarating Schumann 2nd look no further than this. This is a blazing performance of surging power. The New York Philharmonic never sounded more cohesive in ensemble sound, however. The control is superb and you will be lifted out of your seat by the sheer joy of this music making. Surprisingly, the Spring Symphony is almost equally good. A winner of a disc."

The best reading of the second symhony ever recorded

Hiram Gomez Pardo | Valencia, Venezuela | 04/18/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Altogether with the supreme rendition of Mahler`s second , I`ve always thought that this version of Schumann`s second is probably the most pefect achievement of Bernstein throgh all his life , perfect , deep , radiant, exhilarating and yet overwheelming, with such kind of fire passion and flamboyant poetry which makes a reference`s standard at the time you dare to compare other interpretations in the market.
Bernstein seemed a special rapport with tragical works. Remember by example the superb Nielsen`s third , or Ives`question without answer . I don`t pretend minimize his approach to others definitive statements like Haydn`s 97 or Copland`s rodeo to name a couple , but when the Maestro went to Europe at the seventies, and decided establish an engagement with the Vienna Philarmnnic and some works with the BBC symphony , the conductor became in a wise man. His readings of the Beethoven`s symphonies , the Mahler`s cycle or Elgar`s Pomp and circunstance and Enigma Variations were deeper than any period of his career. There was an spiritual`s atmosphere inside of every musical work. Consider for example his version of Ravel`s piano concert with the Vienna in 1971. Probably no other pianist with the exception of Samson Francois could run with such honesty and interpretative conviction.
And the Schumann`s second is played with such commitment and expresiveness that surprises me every time I listen it. And this conception of wise insight seems to anticipate in this reading the Bernstein of the secventies.
And with a very few exceptions this level of interpretations are the rule`s exception. Don`t forget that Bernstein was a an exception witeness. To have the chance of admire the craft of Mitropoulus, De Sabata, Munch, Stokowski, Cantelli , Rodzinski, Koussevitski and Toscanini in these two huge decades of forties and fifties was a sparkling key in the curse of his brilliant career , apart his inteligence and exceptional talent .
When Bernstein left the New York Philarmonic and decided to live in Europe, a cycle was made. Bernstein grew still more , but the New York Philarmonic never sounded the same.
Therefore if you really want to know the essential facets of Schumann, don`t think it twice. Not only by Schumann but the sound of the New York Philarmonic , an orchestra that in my personal view, was the best Orchestra of United States, behind the Boston Symphomy and one step ahead from the Philadelpha Orchestra."

Bernstein's Great Schumann Symphony Cycle Part 1

John Kwok | New York, NY USA | 08/25/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Although the sound quality isn't as fine as Deutsche Grammophon's, I have a stronger preference for Bernstein's earlier New York Philarmonic Schumann symphony cycle than his later Vienna Philharmonic recordings. This splendidly remastered recording may sound "drier" than the Deutsche Grammophon version, yet the New York Philharmonic's performances are as fine as those of the Vienna Philharmonic's. More importantly, Bernstein's conducting is less exuberant here, though his account of Schumann's 2nd Symphony is among the most electrifying I have heard. Although my primary recommendations for Schumann's symphonies would be either of Kubelik's or Masur's sets, you will not go wrong with these old Leonard Bernstein recordings."