Schumann: Symphony No. 1 in B flat major, Op. 38 'Spring'

Inspired by his wife, Clara, Robert Schumann wrote four symphonies over a decade, with No 1, the ‘Spring’, first perfomed – under Felix Mendelssohn – in 1841. Riccardo Muti’s distinction in this cycle is affirmed by Gramophone’s review of No.3, the ‘Rhenish’: ‘The rhythm is firm and bold, the melodic line clearly drawn, the individual playing given every encouragement, not least with some magnificent horn solos. He is no less masterly and sympathetic with the finale.’

Born in Vienna in April 1902, the cheery-looking Josef Krips seems to have been pre-destined to achieve eminence in the Viennese classics. He recorded with both, the Wiener Philharmoniker and the key London orchestras for Decca in the 1940s, 50s and 60s and the interpretations have genuine expressive power while remaining devoid of exaggeration or affectation.

Here we have Krips giving us the First and Fourth symphonies, respectively of Brahms and Schumann. With the Wiener Philharmoniker he whips up an almost uncontainable sense of thrill in Brahms’s First. ‘I wrote the Symphony in that first flush of spring which carries a man away even in his old age, and comes over him anew every year’ wrote Schumann of his First Symphony. Krips’s way with the work is unforced and natural, and of his two recordings of Schumann’s Fourth (in 1952 and 1957), the second is included here.

This issue forms part of a series of five reissues devoted to the art of Josef Krips.

Recording producers: John Culshaw (Brahms No. 1); Victor Olof (Brahms No. 4); James Walker (Schumann No. 1); Christopher Whelan (Schumann No. 4);

Balance engineers: James Brown (Brahms No. 1); unidentified (Brahms No. 4); Ken Cress (Schumann No. 4); Gordon Parry (Schumann No. 4)

Recording locations: Sofiensaal, Vienna, Austria, October 1956 (Brahms No. 1); Kingsway Hall, London, United Kingdom, April 1950 (Brahms No. 4), October 1956 (Schumann No. 4), May 1957 (Schumann No. 1)

June 2010 marks the bicentenary of one of the most celebrated romantic composers: Robert Schumann. To mark this Sony Classical are releasing all four Schumann symphonies in new recordings with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra under its chief conductor Sakari Oramo. This first disc features symphonies Nos. 1 ("Spring Symphony") and 2.

In recent years, the Finn Sakari Oramo has become one of the most exciting conductors and has established a truly international reputation. In 1998 he succeeded Simon Rattle as principal conductor of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, and in 1999 he was promoted to music director. Since 2008 he has been Chief of the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, which has received some excellent press under his leadership, particularly for the interpretation of the romantic repertoire.

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

The Decca Ansermet Legacy on Eloquence continues to garner the highest plaudits from publications all around the world and the latest batch presents the maestro’s recordings of four key Austro-German Romantics: Schubert, Weber, Mendelssohn and Schumann. This 2-CD set brings together all of Ansermet’s Schumann recordings for Decca.

Ansermet’s Schumann is generally unforced and relaxed, with all but the Piano and Cello Concertos making their first international appearance on CD. In the Piano Concerto – a live radio broadcast recording with Lipatti, newly remastered for this release – Lipatti seems to drive the orchestra to new levels of excitement.

As with many of the (relatively few) concertante works Ansermet recorded, the soloists are drawn from the orchestra – as is the case with Edmund Leloir, principal horn of the OSR from 1952-77, for the Adagio and Allegro, originally for horn and piano and, for this recording, orchestrated by Ansermet. Maurice Gendron, soloist in the Cello Concerto, was one of Jacqueline du Pré’s teachers. The Schumann concerto was one of his specialties; he frequently played it when he was invited to appear with orchestras.

“Gendron's performance is instinct with poetry, and, with Ansermet, he achieves a lucidity of expression which is very taking … artistic integrity and understanding which is utterly remarkable” Gramophone

[Schumann's' Symphony No 1] “…a wonderfully light and graceful performance” Gramophone

[Lipatti's Schumann] “…a deeply moving performance. Lipatti plays con amore, almost as if aware the opportunity might never come again” Gramophone

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.