Schumann: Genoveva Overture

During the 1950s, 60s and 70s, Decca recorded a number of albums with some of its key conductors of Overtures. Many of these were singled out by the press for their terrific sound quality (the fabled ‘Decca Sound’) and for their often adventurous programming. Some of them also included entr’actes and intermezzi. Prized as collectors’ items, many of the original LPs exchange hands at high prices. And most of these reissues, in Decca Eloquence’s ‘Romantic Overtures’ series appear in CD, in part or whole, for the first time.

Romantic Overtures – Volume 3 features a conductor who recorded for Decca over a span of 36 years, from the 78 / early LP era (1949) to 1985: Karl Münchinger. Best known for his recordings from the Baroque and Classical eras, made mostly with ‘his’ Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra, he also recorded with the Vienna Philharmonic and made just one recording – of Schumann’s Manfred and Gluck’s Alceste Overtures – with L’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande (in 1954). Appearing on CD for the first time, they round off a 2CD set that includes, also for the first time on CD, Münchinger’s recording of Beethoven Overtures, as well as a remarkable recording ‘Romantic Overtures’ of music by Weber, Schumann, Schubert, Cherubini and Mendelssohn. Also included is Schubert’s Zauberharfe overture which appeared on Münchinger’s famous disc of the incidental music for Rosamunde.

Roger Norrington was the first conductor to rediscover the original sound of the Romantic era. His recordings of famous overtures from Schubert to Wagner showed how fresh, indeed revolutionary an orchestra sounded in the early 19th century. Thanks to his careful studies of the instruments and performing practice of the time, Norrington brings out the poetry of the music in an unprecedented way, making his readings into true milestones of interpretation.

For Schumann Year 2010 Deutsche Grammophon is reissuing this distinguished cycle of Schumann symphonies by Rafael Kubelik, whose first major project for the Yellow Label this was. Hitherto available on CD consistently only in France, it deserves wider circulation.

"Rafael Kubelik and the Berlin Philharmonic light up Schumann's often unappreciated powers of orchestration. [...] This set must now be considered the top buy for Schumann's symphonies" Classic CD, September 1994

"There can be little doubt that Rafael Kubelik's first (BPO) set of the Schumann symphonies - generously coupled with the Genoveva and Manfred Overtures - will compete successfully among other bargain contenders for 'top bargain recommendation'" Rob Cowan, Gramophone, July 1994

"Kubelik brings both vitality and warmth to these scores and the Berlin Philharmonic respond with playing of great freshness and eloquence. The recording is made in a warm acoustic, yet detail registers with admirable clarity and in good perspective. Kubelik's readings are completely straightforward and devoid of egocentric mannerisms" Robert Layton, Gramophone, September 1975

Zubin Mehta has had a long association with the Vienna Philharmonic, conducting them for his first ever recording for Decca (Bruckner's Ninth Symphony) and returning often to conduct them both in their home city and on tour. He conducts their 2007 New Year's Concert, for example. Collected here for the first time are his complete Decca recordings of Schumann - the four symphonies as well as two of the overtures, all played with immense verve and with a gloriously burnished sound from the Vienna Philharmonic.

In the year of Abbado’s 80th birthday (26. June), this album celebrates a true legend of the world of classical music.

Claudio Abbado’s interpretation of the Second Symphony is his first recording of a Schumann symphony for DG. The noble “Genoveva” and stirring “Manfred” overtures are exalted additions to this album.

About his Second as performed at the Lucerne Easter Festival, the Neue Zürcher Zeitung extolled Abbado’s reading as of “the purest beauty”, while Berlin’s Der Tagesspiegel found Abbado’s way with the symphony “liberating”.