I prepared this 10-inch LP for upload some time ago but didn't follow through because the sound was opaque and because there is a skip in the first movement that can't be repaired.
Then I heard a recording of a concert performance of Schumann's second symphony by these forces - and it was so good that I just had to bring this version of the fourth symphony to the blog.
Columbia taped this edition of the fourth symphony in Severance Hall in November 1947. At that time, Szell and the Cleveland band were somewhat new to one another. Nonetheless, this performance displays many of the characteristics of the later performance I heard. Szell has everything under serious control and the orchestra follows his every move with precision and a kind of controlled passion.
Everyone who listens to music likes to think about how they would perform a piece - and this is not the way I would do it, for sure. But it is a fascinating approach that I do enjoy.
I have been able to open out the sound on this recording to a degree, although it is not what you would call airy. Sorry about the glitch in the first movement.
NEW, REMASTERED TRANSFER (JUNE 2014)
2 comments:
Buster...like Chopin, Schumann wasn't the best, when it came to orchestral writing. However, of his four symphonies, No. 2 (in C) seems to have the best calibre. It might be the "interplay" of the instruments...who knows? Their piano skills were much better :-) Schumann's 4th is the shortest of them....but has never been one of my favorites. I like the first 3 the best.
No. 1 is called "Spring", No. 3 is called "Rhenish"(after the Rhine River).
BTW...stay away from the Schumann 1st, with a recording by Charles Munch/Boston Symphony Orchestra. It isn't rated very highly (according to Hi-Fi Stereo Review, from back in the 1950's).
Gil
New, remastered transfer (Apple lossless):
https://mega.co.nz/#!XIkCSJ4I!DPV22VnJy9sWdbQDn1fjn0AukEIPVDVPTpnk8Pc9QrI
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