Search - Franz [Vienna] Schubert, Colin Davis, Dresden Staatskapelle :: Schubert: Symphonies Nos. 1-6, 8 & 9

Franz [Vienna] Schubert, Colin Davis, Dresden Staatskapelle
Schubert: Symphonies Nos. 1-6, 8 & 9
Genre: Classical

Track Listings (10) - Disc #1
1. Symphony No. 1 in D major, D. 82: Adagio; Allegro vivace
2. Symphony No. 1 in D major, D. 82: Andante
3. Symphony No. 1 in D major, D. 82: Allegro
4. Symphony No. 1 in D major, D. 82: Allegro vivace
5. Symphony No. 3 in D major, D. 200: Adagio maestoso; Allegro con brio
6. Symphony No. 3 in D major, D. 200: Allegretto
7. Symphony No. 3 in D major, D. 200: Menuetto vivace; Trio
8. Symphony No. 3 in D major, D. 200: Presto vivace
9. Symphony No. 8 in B minor ('Unfinished'), D. 759: Allegro moderato
10. Symphony No. 8 in B minor ('Unfinished'), D. 759: Andante con moto
Track Listings (8) - Disc #2
1. Symphony No. 2 in B flat major, D. 125: Largo; Allegro vivace
2. Symphony No. 2 in B flat major, D. 125: Andante
3. Symphony No. 2 in B flat major, D. 125: Menuetto: Allegro vivace; Trio
4. Symphony No. 2 in B flat major, D. 125: Presto vivace
5. Symphony No. 4 in C minor ('Tragic'), D. 417: Adagio molto; Allegro vivace
6. Symphony No. 4 in C minor ('Tragic'), D. 417: Andante
7. Symphony No. 4 in C minor ('Tragic'), D. 417: Menuetto: Allegro vivace; Trio
8. Symphony No. 4 in C minor ('Tragic'), D. 417: Allegro
Track Listings (8) - Disc #3
1. Symphony No. 5 in B flat major, D. 485: Allegro
2. Symphony No. 5 in B flat major, D. 485: Andante con moto
3. Symphony No. 5 in B flat major, D. 485: Menuetto: Allegro molto
4. Symphony No. 5 in B flat major, D. 485: Allegro vivace
5. Symphony No. 6 in C major ('Little C Major'), D. 589: Adagio; Allegretto
6. Symphony No. 6 in C major ('Little C Major'), D. 589: Andante
7. Symphony No. 6 in C major ('Little C Major'), D. 589: Scherzo: Presto
8. Symphony No. 6 in C major ('Little C Major'), D. 589: Allegro moderato
Track Listings (4) - Disc #4
1. Symphony No. 9 in C major ('The Great'), D. 944: Andante; Allegro ma non troppo
2. Symphony No. 9 in C major ('The Great'), D. 944: Andante con moto
3. Symphony No. 9 in C major ('The Great'), D. 944: Scherzo: Allegro vivace; Trio
4. Symphony No. 9 in C major ('The Great'), D. 944: Finale: Allegro vivace

CD Details

All Artists: Franz [Vienna] Schubert, Colin Davis, Dresden Staatskapelle
Title: Schubert: Symphonies Nos. 1-6, 8 & 9
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 0
Label: RCA
Release Date: 11/9/2004
Genre: Classical
Style: Symphonies
Number of Discs: 4
SwapaCD Credits: 4
Other Editions: Complete Symphonies
UPC: 828766039221

Synopsis

Amazon.com

Sir Colin Davis is a serious conductor, and he has Germany's finest orchestra playing music that they do better than virtually anyone else. From a purely technical point of view, these are fine renderings. But you can also get this same orchestra at mid or budget price, in this same music, in far less grim performances led by Blomstedt (Berlin Classics) or Sawallisch (Philips). So why spend the money if you don't have to? --David Hurwitz

CD Reviews

A mellifluous Schubert cycle, but lacking in adventure

Santa Fe Listener | Santa Fe, NM USA | 05/20/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Until fairly recently Schubert's symhonic output was largely unrecognized except for three works, the Mozartean #5, the passionate "Unfinished," and the sunny, expansive Ninth. Great conductors restricted themselves to thise three works, with the exception of Beecham, who championed Sym. #3, #4, and #6 with great effectiveness. Colin Davis is his successor in Britain as the acknowledged Grand Old Man of Music, but I'm not sure his Schubert is a real advance over the past.

All these readings are well played and recorded, and there are flashes of spirited interpretation, such as the opening movement of Sym. #3, which is forceful but without the toughness and edge that Carlos Kleiber brought to it. In general the best word for Davis's approach is poised, and the worst is meek. This is the mellifluous Schubert of old, the simple schoolteacher who hapened to be a melodic genius. One misses the brave thrust of Harnoncourt's readings with the Concertgebouw (Teldec), which inject a good deal of Beethoven into the mix.

If you are a traditionalist, Davis's cycle will be very satisfying--by comparison, Karajan's big-band approach with the Berlin Phil. (EMI) feels inflated and self-important. Too bad that Davis lets us down in the late masterpieces, the 'Unfinished' and the C major 'Great,' where his pleasant straightforwardness doesn't come close to doing justice to Schubert's genius. The rest of the symphonies come off sunny and bright without apology."