Search - Schubert, Norrington, Lcp :: Symphony 9 " Great "

Norrington excels in magnificent Schubert performance.

Janos Gardonyi | Toronto, Ontario Canada | 11/28/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Just recently I had the great fortune of attending a concert in San Francisco of Sir Roger
Norrington conducting the San Francisco Symphony in this very same work. It was interesting to see this rather short, bespectacled, balding, scholarly looking man relaxedly mount the podium and delivering an performance of such penache, power and originality
that at the end the audience went wild, with feet stomping , shouting and a standing ovation.
We are lucky indeed to have this recording, which well nigh duplicates the excitement of that live concert. Norrington is a scholarly conductor who went into tremendous amount of research before he attempted this symphony (earlier he made a great fame for himself for his original, non-compromising preformances of Beethoven symphonies,on period instruments).
Again on period istruments,here he opts for fast speeds he gives reasons for in his very exhausting essay given in the accompanying booklet. This may shock us right at the beginning, but we will soon be reconciled to it as the work progresses. The first movement is beautifully judged, the details come out wonderfully (note the famous trombone sigh) and the Coda is very exciting with its acceleration and reoccurance of the initial horn theme in fortissimo.
The "heavenly length" second movement marches along jauntily with episodes played out with great variety of invention ,so the interest never wanes. Some details are really felicitious:
note the trumpet calls at the return of the main theme, also the hushed pianissimo dialogue of the horn with the strings among others. The stormy middle part is suitably fearsome, and it sends shudders down the spine.
By the time we reach the Scherzo we begin to see what Sir Roger is up to. The orchestra in truly virtuoso, unison playing is rollicking along with tremendous force, and the Trio is absolutely heavenly.
What can follow this? The fourth movement tops everything with its racing, but simple,even childlike, themes. It is like a graceful Arabian thoroughbred racing in sparkling green meadows.
The second theme with its four times repeated C-s are as joyful as can be. The excitement mounts further and we are racing towards the Coda where the notes seem to lift off the page. The conductor handles this masterfully with wonderful sense of pacing,
never letting it get out of hand. The final bars are truly climactic and believe me, you will feel it on this disc.
A fantastic performance. Excellent sound. Grab it while supplies last!"