recommended schumann symphonies on cd

Sawalisch.

Nothing eccentric, and yet these selfless performances have stayed by me without a thought of parting with them for more than twenty years, such is the pleasure they have given me throough the wisdom of the conductor's understanding, and the wonderfully luminous playing of the Dresden State Orchestra. Not a hint of overweighted scoring or inpenetrable textures. Just a straight and joyful realisation, which comprehands the shadows in the music as well - all the while keeping a fine sense of equilibrium.

On EMI:



Best wishes from George

Another superb cycle with the Dresdeners - Kurt Sanderling on RCA Navigator. I haven't much experience of other cycles. This one satisfies me.
By the way, was that the real George? His recommending Sawallisch when there is a well-regarded cycle by Klemperer gave me quite a shock.
Cheers,
Ken

Deas Ken,

I thought I would leave it to others to memtion my other well known fabourites: Klemperer and Kubelic!

I used to have Klemperer's set on LPs in the old days, and as it is currently out of the catalogue, I feel an expensive second hand buy from Amazon coming on!

Boult's cycle I will pass over as a recommendation as it was last seen on CD in the mid-eighties - I have it and the none too brilliant recording aside, the set is my outright favourite.

Previously out on Pye, and Nixa [LPs], and released all too brifly on Nixa CDs - now thse recordings languish in EMI's vault as they bought the masters when Pye/Nixa went out of business many years ago ...

ATB from George

quote:

schumann symphonies

Bit pricey but I have always thought a good investment.

Mike, George,

I can't count it as a cycle, but I bought a newly-remastered disc of Karajan/BPO playing the 2nd and 3rd symphonies. These are outstanding, but DG do not seem to have announced any release of the corresponding 1st and 4th. The 2nd and 3rd are taken from early 1960s analogue recordings.

Amazon have two sets of the four works, one of which is identified by a critic as digitally recorded. If I can, I will buy the 1st and 4th ADD recordings. If they are as good as the two works I have, I shall be changing my recommendation.

Regards,
Ken