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Franz Schmidt symphonies
Posted by John Proffitt on October 2, 2020, 5:02 pm
Thanks to Stephen Greenbank for his excellent review of the new DG set of the four symphonies of Franz Schmidt. I agree with his conclusion that Paavo Järvi goes to the top of the list--it is indeed a superb set, which compliments his almost-complete and equally superb Bruckner symphony cycle for Sony/RCA.
There is, however, one additional integral set of the Schmidt symphonies, that of Fabio Luisi and the MDR (aka Leipzig Radio) Symphony Orchestra, on the Querstand label...along with Das Buch mit sieben Siegeln and the piano concerti. Luisi is a very fine Schmidt interpreter, I would add, and his traversal of the symphonies has much to recommend it.
I would agree with John that the Luisi cycle is worthy of consideration but at the same time Sinaisky's Naxos cycle - referenced but not heard by Stephen in his review - is also of very high quality. Apart from Symphonies, a unique feature of that cycle is the presence of fillers by Schmidt. Curiously, none of the other sets include any (I don't count the original Chandos releases coupled with Strauss or Hindemith etc) which makes for moderate playing times and really a missed opportunity to widen a listener's knowledge of Schmidt's quite small symphonic output.
The Variations of a Hussar's Song coupled with No.4 is relatively familiar. However the Fuga Solemnis and the mighty Chaconne are powerful works impressively played. Even No.1 includes more orchestral excerpts than the new set's rather paltry Intermezzo-only from Notre Dame.
Apart from the performing/recording qualities of this new set (the Naxos is very good on both counts as well) Sinaisky deserves serious consideration by the range of works offered at a more competitive price point.....
Previous Message
Thanks to Stephen Greenbank for his excellent review of the new DG set of the four symphonies of Franz Schmidt. I agree with his conclusion that Paavo Järvi goes to the top of the list--it is indeed a superb set, which compliments his almost-complete and equally superb Bruckner symphony cycle for Sony/RCA.
There is, however, one additional integral set of the Schmidt symphonies, that of Fabio Luisi and the MDR (aka Leipzig Radio) Symphony Orchestra, on the Querstand label...along with Das Buch mit sieben Siegeln and the piano concerti. Luisi is a very fine Schmidt interpreter, I would add, and his traversal of the symphonies has much to recommend it.
Re: Franz Schmidt symphonies
Posted by Stephen on October 3, 2020, 10:24 am, in reply to "Re: Franz Schmidt symphonies" Edited by board administrator October 3, 2020, 4:41 pm
Thank you John and Nick for your enthusiastic recommendations of those two cycles. I shall explore further. The Fabio Luisi and the MDR cycle on Querstand looks very interesting, particularly so as I wasn't aware of it until this message today. Stephen Greenbank