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Wednesday, April 19, 2017

Franz Schubert - Symphonies (Nikolaus Harnoncourt)


Information

Composer: Franz Schubert

CD1:
  • (01-04) Symphony No. 1 in D major, D 82
  • (05-08) Symphony No. 4 in C minor, D 417 "Tragic"
  • (09) Overture in the Italian Style in D major, D 590
  • (10) Overture in the Italian Style in C major, D 591
CD2:
  • (01-04) Symphony No. 2 in B flat major, D 125
  • (05-08) Symphony No. 6 in C major, D 589 "Little"
CD3:
  • (01-04) Symphony No. 3 in D major, D 200
  • (05-08) Symphony No. 5 in B flat major, D 485
  • (09-10) Symphony No. 8 in B minor, D 759 "Unfinished"
CD4:
  • (01-04) Symphony No. 9 in C major, D 944 "Great"

Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Nikolaus Harnoncourt, conductor
Date: 1992
Compilation: 2005
Label: Warner Classics (original recorded by Teldec)
http://www.warnerclassics.com/shop/3928651,0825646232321/harnoncourt-nikolaus-the-symphonies

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Review

Harnoncourt, like Stefano Mollo for Abbado, has researched Schubert's own manuscripts, and noted that many unauthentic amendments have found their way into the printed editions of the symphonies. Some of Harnoncourt's corrections are already familiar from the Abbado set, such as the removal of the eight bars later added to the Fourth Symphony's first movement exposition; but the differences between Harnoncourt's 'findings' and Mollo's are puzzling (Harnoncourt does not incorporate Abbado's corrections in the slow movement and Scherzo of the Ninth Symphony). A few of Harnoncourt's corrections are listed in his booklet, though nowhere near as many as appear in DG's notes for Abbado, which is a pity: it would be helpful to know whether the sources of the many startling moments in Harnoncourt's cycle are textual or interpretative; for instance, is the Ninth Symphony's last chord, here extended with a long diminuendo, Schubert or Harnoncourt?

That dying away of Schubert's last symphonic sound is a surprising conclusion for a finale—unlike Abbado's, a whirling, spinning vivace—borne aloft on astonishingly precise articulation of its rhythms and accents, and a springy delivery of the triplets. Characteristics, of course, one has come to expect from an Harnoncourt performance. Still, what a joy to hear this Allegro, and those of most of the earlier symphonies, seized with such bright and light-toned enthusiasm. Here is urgent, virile and vehement playing, never over-forceful, over-emphatic or burdened with excessive weight. What came as a surprise was the consistent drawing out of these scores' potential for sadness and restlessness. Harnoncourt does not set apart the first six symphonies as merely diverting (out-and-out charm is seldom part of Harnoncourt's Schubertian vocabulary): their bittersweet ambiguities and apparent affectations of anxiety here acquire a greater significance, and the cycle, as a whole, a greater continuity.

Up to a point, the darker, more serious Schubert that emerges here, derives from the type of sound Harnoncourt fashions from his orchestra; not least, the lean string tone and incisive brass. And maybe, up to a point, from the corrections: Harnoncourt refers to the manuscripts as often being ''harsher and more abrupt in tone [than the printed editions], juxtaposing extreme dynamic contrasts'', though you can't help feeling that contrasts in general have been given a helping hand. Trios are mostly much slower than the urgent minuets/scherzos that frame them (with pauses in between the two). And Schubert's less vigorous moments are very noticeable as such, and are inflected with varying degrees of melancholy—it is uncanny how the string playing, in particular, often suggests a feeling of isolation (along with the sparing vibrato is an equally sparing use of that enlivening facility: staccato). Even the Second Symphony's perky Trio where, incidentally, Harnoncourt has woodwind turns not trills, seems tinged with a certain regret. Abbado's players sound a great deal more game. As they do in the finale of the Sixth Symphony; the only movement where Harnoncourt's approach is ruthlessly extreme: this begins as a deadpan moderato (the marking is Allegro moderato), and as levels rise, so, sharply, does the tempo; if Schubert intended this movement as a tribute to Rossini, here it seems a rather blatant satire.

Tovey's comment on the Fifth Symphony—''like a delightful child overawed into perfect behaviour... by sheer delight in giving pleasure''—here seems very wide of the mark. Norrington, before Harnoncourt, demonstrated this apparently sunny symphony's capacity for a driven Sturm und Drang restlessness; Harnoncourt's is considerably less driven, but Harnoncourt's 'child' is reluctant to join in: the high flute at the vigorous end of the first movement's first subject could almost be a cry for help. As for the finale's second theme ''running along merrily'' (Tovey), I'm tempted to observe that it's partially lamed by Harnoncourt's preceding stinging fortissimos; the music's minor-key episodes taking their toll on the attempts at merriment as the movement progresses to its hardly convincing major-key conclusion. And why not? Significantly, Schubert marks only a single forte at the finish.
The Unfinished Symphony's first movement is a stark, harrowing experience (yet it remains a well-tempered musical one: gestures are never exaggerated); the opening is as cold as the grave itself; the second subject knows its song is short-lived (curiously, the transition to the second subject seems to have shed a bar, and the last two bars of that cello theme start with quavers, not crotchets). In both movements, the elucidation and balance of texture can only be described as masterly: just listen to the trombones casting shadows in both codas.

This, then, is as seriously pondered, coherent and penetrating a view of the complete cycle as we have had. Whether or not you feel Harnoncourt focuses too much on Schubert's darker side (a feature I have probably overstated in this review), you have to marvel at his ability to realize his vision. And if this great orchestra were not convinced by that vision, I doubt that it would have co-operated as wholeheartedly. The recorded sound offers that inimitable Concertgebouw blend of the utmost clarity and wide open spaces. Abbado's set walked away with a 1989 Gramophone Award; had Harnoncourt's set been available at the same time, then...

-- John Steane, Gramophone

More reviews:
BBC Music Magazine PERFORMANCE: ***** / SOUND: *****
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2005/Oct05/schubert_harnoncourt_2564623232.htm
http://www.amazon.com/Schubert-Symphonies-Franz/dp/B000AGL1A2
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Schubert-The-Symphonies-Franz/dp/B000AGL1A2
http://www.amazon.com/Schubert-The-Symphonies-Franz/dp/B000000SK6

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Franz Schubert (31 January 1797 – 19 November 1828) was an Austrian composer who was extremely prolific during his short lifetime. His output consists of over six hundred secular vocal works (mainly Lieder), seven complete symphonies, sacred music, operas, incidental music and a large body of chamber and piano music. Today, Schubert is ranked among the greatest composers of the late Classical era and early Romantic era and is one of the most frequently performed composers of the early nineteenth century. His music is characterized by pleasing tunes while still has "a great wealth of technical finesse".

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Nikolaus Harnoncourt (6 December 1929 – 5 March 2016) is an Austrian conductor, particularly known for his historically informed performances of music from the Classical era and earlier. His repertoire also include composers of the 19th and 20th centuries. Harnoncourt was a cellist with the Vienna Symphony from 1952 to 1969. In 1953, he founded the period-instrument ensemble Concentus Musicus Wien with his wife, Alice Hoffelner. Harnoncourt later performed with many renowned orchestras that played on modern instruments.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikolaus_Harnoncourt

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FLAC, tracks
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14 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. Thank you for this welcome tribute post to the late Maestro.

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    Replies
    1. Actually for me, it's more like a discover. This cycle is now my definitive choice. Artists can amaze us even in their death, I guess.

      Delete
  3. Wonderful combination Schubert & Harnoncourt, may be non plus ultra, so thanks a lot for this share, very much appreciated!

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  4. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  5. Hallo, thanks for your great work but these links are not working for me (the adfly) Could you reupload or make new links please. I am very Curious about Harnoncourts interpretation with this fantastic orchestra. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Choose one link, copy and paste it to your browser's address bar, wait a few seconds (you may need to click 'Continue' first), then click 'Skip Ad' (or 'Get link').
    If you are asked to download or install anything, IGNORE, only download from file hosting site (mega.nz).
    If MEGA shows 'Bandwidth Limit Exceeded' message, try to create a free account.

    CD1 http://fumacrom.com/1U5G2
    CD2 http://fumacrom.com/1U5G3
    CD3 http://fumacrom.com/1U5G4
    CD4 http://fumacrom.com/1U5G5
    or
    CD1 https://exe.io/mJIE3Y
    CD2 https://exe.io/pfpjb6Yz
    CD3 https://exe.io/ui74
    CD4 https://exe.io/cZnC7Evh
    or
    CD1 https://uii.io/Ae0hT
    CD2 https://uii.io/iHlEvqu
    CD3 https://uii.io/ZCjjTB
    CD4 https://uii.io/1KJr5bMi

    booklet
    https://mega.nz/#!cdlyDBSS!kQE1jvfGEo4-q82AZIZUew46PTdx4ASok6wrrR2dtEk

    ReplyDelete