Schubert's Symphony No. 2, written in 1814/15, is the longest and perhaps most significant of his six early symphonies, surpassing most symphonies by Haydn and Mozart in length.
Performer Biography
Antonello Manacorda, the conductor, was a founding member of the Mahler Chamber Orchestra and served as its vice-president and concertmaster for eight years before becoming a conductor.
Composer Biography
Franz Schubert, the composer, was a pupil at the Wiener Stadtkonvikt from 1808 to 1813, a school whose director, Innocenz Lang, is the dedicatee of his Symphony No. 2.
Critical Reception
Like all of Schubert's early symphonies, Symphony No. 2 only became a repertoire piece in the 20th century, as their quality and 'flashes of genius' were rediscovered.
Notable Performances
The first reliably documented performance of Schubert's Symphony No. 2 took place in London in 1877, conducted by George Grove.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Schubert himself gave his Symphony No. 4 the subtitle 'Tragic Symphony,' making it his first symphony in a minor key, a tonality that had become associated with tragedy through Beethoven.
Recording & Production
The two symphonies on this album were recorded in different locations and at different times: Symphony No. 2 in Berlin in 2012 and Symphony No. 4 in Potsdam in 2013.
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