R Schumann

Symphonies Nos 1-4 Staatskapelle Dresden/

Christian Thielemann

Sony 19075943412 140:32 mins (2 discs) Christian Thielemann’s wayward tempo fluctuations still take some getting used to, but they are an integral part of his Romantic approach to the music in general, and his performance of the C major Symphony No. 2, in particular, is impressive. The central portion of its opening movement, with first and second violins constantly answering each other in contrapuntal dialogue, benefits greatly from having the two groups spatially separated on the stage; while the slow movement – the most achingly beautiful of all Schumann’s symphonic pieces – is done with full expressive ardour. Only the scherzo, a virtuoso piece par excellence for the violins, is too cautiously handled. There’s much to enjoy in the Spring Symphony No. 1, too, particularly its slow movement and the scherzo’s trio sections.

In the Rhenish Third Symphony Thielemann does the famous ‘Cologne Cathedral’ movement with all due solemnity (marred only by the deafening sound of the timpani), but the finale’s rhythms need to be much more tautly sprung; and the main portion of the first movement in the D minor Symphony No. 4 again lacks urgency and energy. As alternative traditional views of these great works, Wolfgang Sawallisch’s performances with the same Dresden orchestra have been widely admired, but perhaps preferable are Rafael Kubelík with the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra (DG), or George Szell and the Cleveland Orchestra (Sony).

Misha Donat

PERFORMANCE ★★★

RECORDING ★★★★