Schumann: Symphonies Nos. 3 & 4 (Re-Orchestrated by G. Mahler)

Featuring

Marin Alsop
ORF Radio-Symphonieorchester Wien
Robert Schumann

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Interpretation

Gustav Mahler's re-orchestrations of Schumann's symphonies gently modify the original scoring to suit modern symphony orchestras, which are much larger than those of Schumann's time.

Compositional Technique

Schumann's Symphony No. 3, 'Rhenish', includes a fifth movement, added to reflect the gothic majesty of the Cologne Cathedral, which was under construction nearby.

Composer Biography

Robert Schumann, the composer, produced over 150 compositions in his tragically short 46-year life, despite also being known as a music critic and editor.

Performer Biography

Marin Alsop, the conductor, is the first and only conductor to receive a MacArthur Fellowship and was the first woman to conduct the BBC's Last Night of the Proms.

Critical Reception

After Schumann's death, critics found limitations in his longer works, including his symphonies, regarding his ability to sustain larger forms and his orchestration.

Recording & Production

This album was recorded in October 2020 at the Musikverein Wien and ORF Funkhaus Studio 6 in Vienna, Austria.

Composition History

Schumann's Symphony No. 4 was originally conceived as a revolutionary single-movement symphony in 1841, but its premiere confused listeners due to its continuous structure.