Simon Rattle conducts Schumann

Rattle’s deft, beautifully nuanced readings have none of the plush upholstery that once characterised the Berliners’ Schumann, and yet it’s impossible to listen to these performances without... — Financial Times, 21st June 2014, More…

Release Date: 23rd May 2014
Catalogue No: BPHR140011
Label: Berliner Philharmoniker
Length: 2 hours 4 minutes

Presto Recording of the Week

19th May 2014
Presto Recordings of the Year

Finalist 2014

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

31:05

Sir Simon Rattle
Berliner Philharmoniker

1. Andante un poco maestoso - Allegro molto vivace - Animato

11:20

2. Larghetto -

5:45

3. Scherzo: Molto vivace - Trio 1: Molto più vivace - Tempo 1 - Trio 2 - Coda

5:36

4. Allegro animato e grazioso

8:24

Schumann: Symphony No. 4 in D minor, Op. 120

24:54

Sir Simon Rattle
Berliner Philharmoniker

1. Andante con moto - Allegro di molto - Animato

8:24

2. Romanza: Andante

3:57

3. Scherzo: Presto - Trio - Scherzo - Trio - Largo

6:58

4. Finale: Allegro vivace - Più vivace - Stringendo - Presto

5:35

Schumann: Symphony No. 2 in C major, Op. 61

38:01

Sir Simon Rattle
Berliner Philharmoniker

1. Sostenuto assai - Un poco più vivace - Allegro, ma non troppo

12:07

2. Scherzo: Allegro vivace - Trio 1 - Trio 2

7:29

3. Adagio espressivo

10:15

4. Allegro molto vivace

8:10

Schumann: Symphony No. 3 in E flat major, Op. 97 'Rhenish'

30:36

Sir Simon Rattle
Berliner Philharmoniker

1. Lebhaft

8:54

2. Scherzo: Sehr mäßig

6:01

3. Nicht schnell

4:41

4. Feierlich

5:26

5. Lebhaft – Schneller

5:34

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For Simon Rattle, Robert Schumann is "the echt Romantic". And in fact, the exuberance of the period, its passion and its melancholy can be heard with unique intensity in Schumann's music to this day. For the Berliner Philharmoniker, Schumann's symphonies have always been part of their core repertoire. The 1953 Wilhelm Furtwängler recording in particular has attained cult status. And so it only stands to reason that the Berliner Philharmoniker should launch their Berliner Philharmoniker Recordings label with a cycle of the four Schumann symphonies.

The works have accompanied the orchestra throughout 2013 – in Berlin and on tour in Europe and Asia. The Berlin Tagesspiegel, wrote of a "defining moment", while the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung praised the "truly sensational quality." Another special feature of this recording from the Philharmonie is the decision to use the early version of the Fourth Symphony from 1841, whose appeal for Simon Rattle lies in its extra "lightness, grace and beauty" compared to the established later version. The presentation of the product, its packaging and special features, go far beyond what standard CDs offer.

The linen-bound hardcover edition includes the Schumann cycle in different formats, and in addition to the traditional audio format on two CDs, there is also a Blu-ray Disc which enables music lovers to listen to the recording in audiophile studio quality of 96kHz/24bit or as HD video. If you are looking for the recording in even higher resolution, there is an accompanying code which allows you to download a version online in up to 192kHz/24bit. An additional code grants 48 hours access to the Berliner Philharmoniker's video platform, the Digital Concert Hall. The release also includes bonus material such as behind-the-scenes videos and a comprehensive booklet with articles about the composer, his symphonies and the Schumann tradition of the Berliner Philharmoniker.

Please Note: JAPAN, CHINA & HONG KONG - For contractual reasons, we have been asked not to sell this product to customers in Japan, China and Hong Kong. We apologise for any disappointment or inconvenience caused.

Read Presto's complete review of this disc here.

CDs 1 & 2
Symphonies Nos. 1-4

Blu-ray Disc
Symphonies Nos 1–4 in Pure Audio 24-bit / 96 kHz [2.0 PCM Stereo • 5.0 DTS-HD MA]
Symphonies Nos 1–4 in High Definition Video [Full HD 16:9 / PCM Stereo • 5.0 Surround DTS-HD]

Download Code
For high resolution audio files of the entire album (24 bit / up to 192 kHz)

Digital Concert Hall
7- Day Ticket for the Berliner Philharmoniker’s video streaming service

Reviews

21st June 2014

Rattle’s deft, beautifully nuanced readings have none of the plush upholstery that once characterised the Berliners’ Schumann, and yet it’s impossible to listen to these performances without admiring the fabulous sonority of the Berlin strings...Rattle finds geniality in the music.

17th June 2014

Rattle displays a fine affinity with these scores and though the orchestra members must have played these symphonies many times there’s never the slightest suspicion of routine here: everything sounds fresh and newly discovered – though I hasten to add that there’s never a suspicion of disruptive point-making.

19th May 2014

Well-thought-out tempo changes and plenty of rubato make for generally very persuasive accounts of all four symphonies. Rattle has clearly thought long and hard about exactly how to bring these works to life with a large symphony orchestra, carefully balancing winds and brass so as not to obscure any other details.

27th July 2014

There is something surprisingly Karajan-esque about Rattle’s interpretations here – surprising because Rattle has conducted Schumann widely and his performances bristle with period-conscious style... the BPO’s well-upholstered sound, at once lithe and warm, is indubitably impressive.

2 CDs + Blu-ray

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