Schumann: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 3

Philippe Herreweghe and Antwerp Symphony Orchestra

Released on 10-11-2023 by Phi
Main artists: Philippe Herreweghe Antwerp Symphony Orchestra
Genre: Klassiek

Digital booklet

Available in

24-Bit/96 kHz Stereo

Unlimited Streaming

Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps

Start my trial period and start listening to this album

Enjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription

Digital Download

Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.

Language available : english

Philippe Herreweghe is a conductor better known for historically oriented performances, but like some others in that field, he has taken up conducting Romantic repertory with conventional orchestras. With the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra, he recorded the four Schumann symphonies at different times, with the project apparently delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. They're distinctive recordings that stand apart from those of, say, Jordi Savall. Herreweghe wisely declines to shrink his forces down to historical performance standards; his 38 violins seem to be the orchestra's regular complement, and there are no nods toward historical instruments in the other sections. Nevertheless, one can identify this performance as a product of the historical performance movement. Herreweghe reins in his strings in many passages, revealing a wealth of subtle detail in the orchestration whose seeming absence was among the reasons these symphonies were undervalued for so long. The slow movements are full of very subtle shading, and though some may want more oomph in the outer movements, those are carefully etched as well. Herreweghe keeps the tempos fixed, and the end result is a pair of performances that may remind those of a certain age of George Szell's readings of these works with the Cleveland Orchestra; they are dry but far from insensitive. The Antwerp Symphony Orchestra, probably containing musicians who have worked with Herreweghe before, responds well to his shaping of the two works. Sample and listen carefully to pick up on what Herreweghe is doing here.

© James Manheim /TiVo

More info

Schumann: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 3

Philippe Herreweghe

You are currently listening to samples.

Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.

Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.

From 13,50€/month

Symphony No. 1 in B-flat Major, Op. 38 "Spring" (Robert Schumann)

I. Andante un poco maestoso - Allegro molto vivace

Antwerp Symphony Orchestra