The D-minor Symphony, included on this album, is presented in its original 1841 version; Robert Schumann reworked it ten years later and issued it as his Fourth Symphony.
Recording & Production
This album is the first volume in a series of recordings by the WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne dedicated to Robert Schumann's complete symphonic works.
Interpretation
Conductor Heinz Holliger notes that Robert Schumann worked very precisely, often entering a state of rapture to draft long works quickly, but only after meticulous mental preparation.
Compositional Technique
Robert Schumann's First Symphony, subtitled 'Spring', was partly inspired by a poem by Adolf Böttger and features poetic correlations throughout, including a 'fluttering' butterfly motif.
Composer Biography
Robert Schumann systematically explored major musical genres, dedicating specific years to song (1840), symphony (1841), and chamber music (1842).
Performer Biography
Heinz Holliger, the conductor on this album, is a versatile musician who has won numerous awards, including the Léonie Sonning Prize for Music and the Ernst von Siemens Music Prize.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Robert Schumann's symphonic works show his unique approach to combining genres and art forms, differing from the symphonic poems of Liszt and music dramas of Wagner.
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Schumann: Complete Symphonies; Das Paradies und die Peri
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Schumann: Symphonies Nos. 1-4 & Concertstück in F Major, Op. 86
