Schubert: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 6

Album review

Does it need to be said that Schubert's First Symphony was in fact the work of a 16 year-old youth? You would never guess just by listening to it: the instrumentation, the form, the harmonic daringness, the richness of the themes, the moves from tragic to carefree which characterise his work, it's all there. Yes, Beethoven's influence makes itself felt, as does Mozart's and Hayden's, but Schubert's very personal style is apparent in all corners of this work. René Jacobs and the B’Rock orchestra – based in Belgium, and not a purely baroque outfit despite its name as they play everything up to Pärt – give a spirited interpretation, brilliantly underlining the contrasts. The album continues with the Sixth, the "little C major" of 1817-18 (as opposed to the "big", the Ninth), which brought in Rossini's influence at a time when the latter was conquering Vienna. But again, the energy unleashed in this piece carries the Schubertian hallmark, to say nothing of the almost-monumental architecture that comes close to that of his final masterpieces. The B’Rocks and Jacobs bring out the innate theatricality of this material, making every moment a celebration. © SM/Qobuz