Franz Schmidt - Symphony No. 4; Variations on a Hussar’s Song (Vassily Sinaisky)

Information

Composer: Franz Schmidt

• (01) Symphony No. 4 in C major
• (05) Variations on a Hussar's Song

Malmö Symphony Orchestra
Vassily Sinaisky, conductor

Date: 2010
Label: Naxos
https://www.naxos.com/catalogue/item.asp?item_code=8.572118

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Review

Let there be no doubt, Franz Schmidt’s Fourth (1933) is one of the finest of 20th-century symphonies. Its alternately winsome and tragic atmosphere, where even the major instrumental solos bear autobiographical resonances, make it a very special work emotionally. Unapologetically lyrical and melodic from first bar to last, it is also very closely constructed, the themes deriving from the long opening trumpet solo (which instrument Schmidt played as a student). In design its four sections run continuously, built from three movements, the slow movement featuring prominent solos for Schmidt’s own instrument, the cello. The recapitulation of the first movement is delayed and extended to form the finale. Even Liszt and Nielsen did not think of that!

Sinaisky’s previous recordings in this series have shown him to be a most sympathetic Schmidt interpreter, albeit a touch cautious in choice of tempi. So generally it proves here – compare this account with Järvi’s, which is four minutes swifter – and if I would have preferred a touch more impulsion in the Allegro molto moderato, Sinaisky undeniably makes his pacing work. I would still select Welser-Möst’s beautifully played account with Schmidt’s own Vienna Philharmonic as first choice in both the symphony and the Hussar’s Song Variations (1930) but Sinaisky is a fine alternative and preferable to Luisi, who offers no coupling (Järvi has Strauss’s symphonic fragment from Josephslegende). Naxos’s sound is most serviceable without being spectacular and not as rich as the Chandos and EMI rivals. At super-budget price, though, this is unreservedly recommended.

-- Guy Rickards, Gramophone

More reviews:
ClassicsToday  ARTISTIC QUALITY: 8 / SOUND QUALITY: 9
BBC Music Magazine  PERFORMANCE: ***** / SOUND: ****
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2011/Jan11/Schmidt4_8572118.htm
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/dec/02/schmidt-symphony-no4-hussars-review
https://www.naxos.com/reviews/reviewslist.asp?catalogueid=8.572118&languageid=EN
https://www.amazon.com/Schmidt-Symphony-Solemnis-organ-percussion/dp/B002IVRB9C

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Franz Schmidt (22 December 1874 – 11 February 1939) was an Austrian composer, cellist and pianist. He studied at the Vienna Conservatory with Robert Fuchs, Ferdinand Hellmesberger and Anton Bruckner. As a composer, Schmidt was slow to develop, but his reputation, at least in Austria, saw a steady growth from the late 1890s until his death in 1939. In his music, Schmidt continued to develop the Viennese classic-romantic traditions he inherited from Schubert, Brahms and his own master, Bruckner. As a teacher, Schmidt trained numerous musicians, conductors and composers who later achieved fame.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franz_Schmidt

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Vassily Sinaisky (born April 20, 1947 in Abez, Komi Republic) is a Russian conductor and pianist. He studied conducting with Ilya Musin at the Leningrad Conservatory and began his career as assistant to Kirill Kondrashin at the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra. In 1973, he won the Gold Medal at the Karajan Competition in Berlin. Sinaisky lead the Latvian National Symphony (1976-1989), the Moscow Philharmonic (1991-1996) and the Malmö Symphony (2007-2011). He was Principal Guest Conductor of the BBC Philharmonic (1996-2012) and made several recordings with them for Chandos.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vassily_Sinaisky

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