SCHUMAN, W.: Symphonies Nos. 4 and 9 / Circus Overture / Orchestra Song (Seattle Symphony, Schwarz)

Album review

These recordings deserve to exist. William Schuman's 10 symphonies are surely worthy contributions to the canon of American symphonies. Gerard Schwarz conducting the American symphonic canon is certainly as commendable as all but Bernstein's or Tilson Thomas' conducting. The Seattle Symphony Orchestra's playing of the canon of American symphonies is indubitably as admirable as any but the New York or Boston's playing.
Whether these recordings deserve to be played all that often is another question. The Seattle's playing is more than capable but less than polished: the strings sometimes sound scrawny and the brass have a tendency to blast when the dynamics go above forte. Schwarz's conducting is more than competent but less than compelling: his textures sometimes become clotted and his structures have a tendency to sag. And then there's Schuman's symphonies: no matter how lovely its melodies, the Fourth cannot resist meandering off into needless complications and no matter how exalted its counterpoint, the Ninth cannot resist descending to pointless platitudes. The shorter Orchestra Song and Circus Overture are less ambitious and more charming, but are decidedly lightweight and thoroughly forgettable. Naxos' sound is hard and distant.

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