Search - Robert Schumann, Franz Konwitschny, Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra :: Robert Schumann: The 4 Symphonies

Outstanding Schumann interpretations

L. Johan Modée | Earth | 06/08/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Franz Konwitschny is perhaps not the most well-known conductor, probably partly due to the fact that he worked and lived in East Germany during the Cold War. He was born in 1901, Fulnek, Northern Moravia, and he died in 1962 in Belgrade, former Yugoslavia while conducting in a TV broadcast. From 1949 until his death he was principal conductor for the Gewandhausorchester in Leipzig, where he became a DDR classical superstar. He received a state funeral in that city, with a crowd weeping some miles along the streets.



This box collects his outstanding Schumann interpretations - the four symphonies, the "Genoveva" and "Manfred" overtures, and the rarely performed "Konzertstück für vier Hörner", op. 86 and the "Overture, Scherzo, and Finale", op. 52. All performances were recorded in the "Studio" Bethanienkirche in Leipzig, with its excellent acoustics. They are also taped in very good early vintage analogue stereo by the VEB Deutsche Schallplatten engineers - and the Berlin Classics' remasterings are excellent.



In sum, these are classic DDR Schumann recordings, in the old school style from a great conductor - what more could you ask for? Of course, for the symphonies, we have strong competition: references include Kubelik (SONY), Szell (SONY) and, recently, Barenboim (Teldec). But Konwitschny's performances are second to none, even if I don't want to be without any of these other recordings.



Warmly recommended!



(The Schumann cycle is also included in the box "The Art of Franz Konwitschny", vol. 2.)"