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Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra|Schumann: Scenes from Goethe's Faust (Live)

Schumann: Scenes from Goethe's Faust (Live)

Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra

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Nikolaus Harnoncourt, whose recordings with the Wiener Philharmoniker made that suave orchestra sound like a provincial band, here makes the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam, surely one of the great orchestras of Europe, sound weak and nondescript. In this recording of Schumann's rarely performed Scenes from Goethe's Faust, the Austrian conductor has dispensed with the Dutch orchestra's strong-as-silk string tone, individualistic wind playing, and sculpted sonorities, and instead opted for surprisingly scrawny strings, oddly characterless winds, plus a strangely anonymous ensemble sound. Examples include the blunt brass and brutal attacks in the Overture and the weak strings and anemic winds at the start of "Sunrise" from Part Two. Harnoncourt does get the Dutch orchestra and its chorus to make a great noise in the "Scene in the Cathedral" from Part One, and in the "Chorus Mysticus" at the work's close, but these effects are so overdone that they leave no better impression than the quieter passages.
Harnoncourt's interpretation fails to redeem his technical shortcomings. His is a by-the-numbers Faust, that is, it moves from number to number, from orchestral introduction to aria to chorus to orchestral coda, without the numbers adding up to more than the sum of their parts. Admittedly, Schumann called the work Scenes from Goethe's Faust because it treats only episodes from the poet's enormous drama. But as Benjamin Britten's premiere recording shows, the Scenes can add up to more than the sum of their parts if the conductor persuasively conveys the work's human drama and musical structure. In Harnoncourt's interpretation, the work seems more like a series of effects without causes, and the listener's attention is liable to wander when the dynamic level falls below mezzo forte.
Throughout, there is fine singing from the soloists, though one's tolerance for vibrato may be strained at times by the two leads, Christian Gerhaher and Christiane Iven. But neither they nor RSO Live's amazingly immediate super audio sound can compensate for Harnoncourt's deficiencies.

© TiVo

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Schumann: Scenes from Goethe's Faust (Live)

Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra

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1
Scenes from Goethe's Faust, WoO 3: Overture (Live)
00:08:17

Robert Schumann, Composer - Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Conductor - Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist

© 2009 RCO Live ℗ 2009 RCO Live

2
Scenes from Goethe's Faust, WoO 3, Pt. 1: I. "Du kantest mich, o kleiner Engel, wieder" (Faust, Gretchen, Mephistopheles, Marthe) (Live)
00:05:07

Robert Schumann, Composer - Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Conductor - Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Alastair Miles, Bass Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Christian Gerhaher, Baritone Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Christiane Iven, Soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Mojca Erdmann, Soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist

© 2009 RCO Live ℗ 2009 RCO Live

3
Scenes from Goethe's Faust, WoO 3, Pt. 1: II. "Ach neige, Du Schmerzensreiche" (Gretchen) (Live)
00:04:40

Robert Schumann, Composer - Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Conductor - Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Christiane Iven, Soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist

© 2009 RCO Live ℗ 2009 RCO Live

4
Scenes from Goethe's Faust, WoO 3, Pt. 2: I. "Wie anders, Gretchen, war dir's" (Böser Geist, Gretchen, Chorus) (Live)
00:07:14

Netherlands Radio Choir, Choir - Robert Schumann, Composer - Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Conductor - Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Alastair Miles, Bass Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Christiane Iven, Soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist

© 2009 RCO Live ℗ 2009 RCO Live

5
Scenes from Goethe's Faust, WoO 3 Pt. 2: II. "Die ihr dies Haupt umschwebt im luft'gen Kreise" (Ariel, Chorus) (Live)
00:07:26

Netherlands Radio Choir, Choir - Robert Schumann, Composer - Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Conductor - Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Werner Güra, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist

© 2009 RCO Live ℗ 2009 RCO Live

6
Scenes from Goethe's Faust, WoO 3, Pt. 2: I. "Täler grünen, Hügel Schwellen" (Chorus, Ariel) (Live)
00:04:03

Netherlands Radio Choir, Choir - Robert Schumann, Composer - Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Conductor - Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Werner Güra, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist

© 2009 RCO Live ℗ 2009 RCO Live

7
Scenes from Goethe's Faust, WoO 3, Pt. 2: I. "Des Lebens Pulse schlagen frisch lebendig" (Faust) (Live)
00:04:08

Robert Schumann, Composer - Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Conductor - Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Christian Gerhaher, Baritone Vocals, FeaturedArtist

© 2009 RCO Live ℗ 2009 RCO Live

8
Scenes from Goethe's Faust, WoO 3, Pt. 2: I. "So ist es also, wenn ein sehnend Hoffen" (Faust) (Live)
00:04:11

Robert Schumann, Composer - Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Conductor - Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Christian Gerhaher, Baritone Vocals, FeaturedArtist

© 2009 RCO Live ℗ 2009 RCO Live

9
Scenes from Goethe's Faust, WoO 3, Pt. 2: II. "Ich heisse der Mangel" (Mangel, Schuld, Sorge, Not) (Live)
00:02:12

Robert Schumann, Composer - Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Conductor - Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Elisabeth von Magnus, Mezzo-soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Birgit Remmert, Mezzo-soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Christiane Iven, Soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Mojca Erdmann, Soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist

© 2009 RCO Live ℗ 2009 RCO Live

10
Scenes from Goethe's Faust, WoO 3, Pt. 2: II. "Vier sah ich kommen, drei nur gehn" (Faust, Sorge) (Live)
00:08:59

Robert Schumann, Composer - Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Conductor - Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Christian Gerhaher, Baritone Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Mojca Erdmann, Soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist

© 2009 RCO Live ℗ 2009 RCO Live

11
Scenes from Goethe's Faust, WoO 3, Pt. 2: II. "Die Nacht scheint tiefer tief hereinzudringen" (Faust) [Live]
00:02:34

Robert Schumann, Composer - Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Conductor - Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Christian Gerhaher, Baritone Vocals, FeaturedArtist

© 2009 RCO Live ℗ 2009 RCO Live

12
Scenes from Goethe's Faust, WoO 3, Pt. 2: III. "Herbei, herbei! Herein, herein!" (Mephistopheles, Lemuren, Faust) (Live)
00:13:57

Netherlands Radio Choir, Choir - Robert Schumann, Composer - Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Conductor - Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Alastair Miles, Bass Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Christian Gerhaher, Baritone Vocals, FeaturedArtist

© 2009 RCO Live ℗ 2009 RCO Live

13
Scenes from Goethe's Faust, WoO 3, Pt. 3: I. "Waldung, sie schwankt heran" (Chorus) (Live)
00:03:34

Netherlands Radio Choir, Choir - Robert Schumann, Composer - Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Conductor - Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist

© 2009 RCO Live ℗ 2009 RCO Live

14
Scenes from Goethe's Faust, WoO 3, Pt. 3: II. "Ewiger Wonnebrand" (Pater Ecstaticus) (Live)
00:01:45

Robert Schumann, Composer - Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Conductor - Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Werner Güra, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist

© 2009 RCO Live ℗ 2009 RCO Live

15
Scenes from Goethe's Faust, WoO 3, Pt. 3: III. "Wie Felsenabgrund mir zu Füssen" (Pater Profundus) (Live)
00:03:10

Robert Schumann, Composer - Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Conductor - Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Franz-Josef Selig, Bass Vocals, FeaturedArtist

© 2009 RCO Live ℗ 2009 RCO Live

16
Scenes from Goethe's Faust, WoO 3, Pt. 3: III. "Welch ein Morgenwölkchen schwebet" (Pater Seraphicus, Seliger Knaben) (Live)
00:03:03

Netherlands Radio Choir, Choir - Robert Schumann, Composer - Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Conductor - Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Christian Gerhaher, Baritone Vocals, FeaturedArtist

© 2009 RCO Live ℗ 2009 RCO Live

17
Scenes from Goethe's Faust, WoO 3, Pt. 3: IVa. "Gerettet ist das Edle Glied" (Engel, Chorus) (Live)
00:06:32

Netherlands Radio Choir, Choir - Robert Schumann, Composer - Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Conductor - Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Elisabeth von Magnus, Mezzo-soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Werner Güra, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Franz-Josef Selig, Bass Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Netherlands Children's Choir, Choir - Mojca Erdmann, Soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist

© 2009 RCO Live ℗ 2009 RCO Live

18
Scenes from Goethe's Faust, WoO 3, Pt. 3: IVb. "Gerettet ist das Edle Glied" (Engel, Chorus, Mezzo, Tenor, Bass) (Live)
00:03:57

Netherlands Radio Choir, Choir - Robert Schumann, Composer - Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Conductor - Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Birgit Remmert, Mezzo-soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Alastair Miles, Bass Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Werner Güra, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Netherlands Children's Choir, Choir - Christiane Iven, Soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist

© 2009 RCO Live ℗ 2009 RCO Live

19
Scenes from Goethe's Faust, WoO 3, Pt. 3: V. "Hier ist die Aussicht frei" (Doctor Marianus) (Live)
00:05:02

Robert Schumann, Composer - Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Conductor - Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Christian Gerhaher, Baritone Vocals, FeaturedArtist

© 2009 RCO Live ℗ 2009 RCO Live

20
Scenes from Goethe's Faust, WoO 3, Pt. 3: VI. "Dir, der Unberührbaren" (Doctor Marianus, Chorus, Bass, Mater Gloriosa, Magna Peccatrix, Mulier Samaritana, Maria Aegyptiaca, Una Poenitentum) (Live)
00:09:01

Netherlands Radio Choir, Choir - Robert Schumann, Composer - Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Conductor - Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Elisabeth von Magnus, Mezzo-soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Birgit Remmert, Mezzo-soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Christian Gerhaher, Baritone Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Netherlands Children's Choir, Choir - Mojca Erdmann, Soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist

© 2009 RCO Live ℗ 2009 RCO Live

21
Scenes from Goethe's Faust, WoO 3, Pt. 3: VII. "Alles vergängliche ist nur ein Gleichnis" (Chorus Mysticus) (Live)
00:08:56

Netherlands Radio Choir, Choir - Robert Schumann, Composer - Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Conductor - Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist

© 2009 RCO Live ℗ 2009 RCO Live

Album review

Nikolaus Harnoncourt, whose recordings with the Wiener Philharmoniker made that suave orchestra sound like a provincial band, here makes the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam, surely one of the great orchestras of Europe, sound weak and nondescript. In this recording of Schumann's rarely performed Scenes from Goethe's Faust, the Austrian conductor has dispensed with the Dutch orchestra's strong-as-silk string tone, individualistic wind playing, and sculpted sonorities, and instead opted for surprisingly scrawny strings, oddly characterless winds, plus a strangely anonymous ensemble sound. Examples include the blunt brass and brutal attacks in the Overture and the weak strings and anemic winds at the start of "Sunrise" from Part Two. Harnoncourt does get the Dutch orchestra and its chorus to make a great noise in the "Scene in the Cathedral" from Part One, and in the "Chorus Mysticus" at the work's close, but these effects are so overdone that they leave no better impression than the quieter passages.
Harnoncourt's interpretation fails to redeem his technical shortcomings. His is a by-the-numbers Faust, that is, it moves from number to number, from orchestral introduction to aria to chorus to orchestral coda, without the numbers adding up to more than the sum of their parts. Admittedly, Schumann called the work Scenes from Goethe's Faust because it treats only episodes from the poet's enormous drama. But as Benjamin Britten's premiere recording shows, the Scenes can add up to more than the sum of their parts if the conductor persuasively conveys the work's human drama and musical structure. In Harnoncourt's interpretation, the work seems more like a series of effects without causes, and the listener's attention is liable to wander when the dynamic level falls below mezzo forte.
Throughout, there is fine singing from the soloists, though one's tolerance for vibrato may be strained at times by the two leads, Christian Gerhaher and Christiane Iven. But neither they nor RSO Live's amazingly immediate super audio sound can compensate for Harnoncourt's deficiencies.

© TiVo

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© 2009 RCO Live ℗ 2009 RCO Live

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