Schubert: Symphonies, Vol. 3

Album review

With the third volume in their survey of Schubert's Symphonies, Edward Gardner and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra present the composer's First and Fourth symphonies, with the Overture to his final complete opera, Fierrabras, D. 796, rounding out the program. While the Symphony No. 1 in D major, D. 82, and Symphony No. 4 in C minor, D. 417 ("Tragic"), aren't heard as often or as popular as his "Great" and "Unfinished" symphonies, there are plenty of recording options available for these works, and listener opinions are sure to vary as to Gardner's approach and the full complement of the City of Birmingham Symphony. The overall performance of the Symphony No. 1 is a little heavy, skewing to the more robust Romantic-era orchestral sound, though there are wonderful performances contained within. While the Symphony No. 1 looks back to the writings of Mozart and Haydn, similar to early Beethoven, the Symphony No. 4 (from a whole three years later!) finds a much more welcoming soundscape from Gardner and the orchestra. These forces align well for the Fierrabras Overture, and its inclusion offers a glimpse at this remarkable composer's growth over a ten-year span. Schubert suffered another disappointment with Fierrabras, and like much of his oeuvre, it has seen periods of neglect. However, one hopes this recording puts the Overture on the radar of those looking to offer something a little different in a program of Romantic orchestral works.
© Keith Finke /TiVo