Schubert: Symphony No. 8 in B minor, D759 'Unfinished'

Abbado’s Schubert symphony-cycle is a benchmark recording — exhibiting a “freshness of approach and authentic Schubertian warmth and glow” (Gramophone).

Added bonus: Joseph Joachim’s great orchestration of the Grand Duo — originally for piano duet, now a virtual symphony in its own right.

“An outstanding set . . . naturally sunny and warm in expression” The Penguin Guide

Exclusive 5 CD hardcover box with Knappertsbusch’s signature in gold foil imprint.

This production is of high documentary value and definitely one of Audite's priority productions for 2010. During the early 1950s, before the Karajan era, the conductor Hans Knappertsbusch (1888-1965) worked intensively with the Berlin Philharmonic. The core-period of this cooperation from 1950 until 1952 in particular is documented by high-quality recordings made by RIAS Berlin, both of live concerts and of studio productions. For the first time, the original tapes from the RIAS archives have been made available, which means that these CDs offer the highest possible technical quality. This 5-CD set includes on the one hand a variety of symphonic works and on the other ‘light music’: two differing facets of Hans Knappertsbusch’s repertoire. The recordings of this edition convey a fascinating view on Knappertsbusch’s art. This comparison of live and studio recordings illustrates the influence of medium on Kna’s interpretational aesthetic: in concert, he takes greater liberties in tempi and dynamics than in the more objective studio location. This is also shown by the comparison of concert and studio recordings of Schubert’s ‘Unfinished’ Symphony and Bruckner’s Ninth Symphony, two key-works in this edition. At the same time, the recordings disprove the one-sided view of Knappertsbusch as a master of slow tempi. Whereas he has a more expansive take on time in Beethoven’s Eighth Symphony, he tends to choose even more fluid tempi in his interpretations of the great Bruckner symphonies than Bruckner specialists such as Gunter Wand.

4SACD (Schubert Symphonies) + 2CD

This set celebrates Nott’s relationship with the Bamberger Symphoniker and includes not only Schubert’s Complete Symphonies but other works written as an homage to Schubert. This 6 disc set has been widely advertised in the magazines and will be a must for all Jonathan Nott fans.

After a first-movement fragment of a symphony in D major from 1811, Schubert completed six symphonies from 1813 to 1818. Of these, the Fifth in B flat is a masterpiece of Mozartian grace, and the others are fine works that show the young composer working within the confines of the Haydnesque model – though clearly the shadow of Beethoven’s first two symphonies is cast over these early works. After the Rossinian No.6, something strange happened. Of six symphonic works he attempted from 1819, only one was completed: the Ninth Symphony in C major ‘The Great’. Schubert’s painstaking attempts to become a major symphonic voice can be experienced in the sketches realised with great skill and affection by the Schubert expert Dr. Brian Newbould.

Listening to the complete Scherzo from the fragmentary four-movement Symphony in D, D708, you can hear a trial run for the scherzo of the Ninth. The E major Seventh Symphony of 1821 is so very nearly the mature work Schubert was striving to perfect. Using the largest orchestra he ever composed for, it is an imposing piece with a haunting slow movement. The famous ‘Unfinished’ Eighth was probably completed in 1822. All that is lost to us is the trio of the scherzo – here Dr Newbould employed a contemporary Lied and the finale.

In 1828, after completing the Ninth, Schubert embarked on another D major work, D936a, his Tenth symphony. This three-movement work contains a slow movement of great beauty, inhabiting the bleak world of Winterreise, and foreshadowing Mahler. Newbould’s realisations provides a tantalising view of the symphonic landscape Schubert would have created had he not died at the age of 31.

Superbly bright and fresh digital recordings made in 1981 – 1984.

The most complete set of Schubert’s symphonic work available.

Haitink 80th birthday 4 March 2009. This 7CD set is an overview of his recording career for Philips/Decca over 50 years. Booklet essay has an overview of Haitink’s life, career and achievements by acclaimed writer, scholar and broadcaster Robert Layton. Recordings feature the main orchestras Haitink has recorded and worked with during the past 50 years