Notes and Editorial Reviews
According to Eloquence, Zubin Mehta’s 1976-1981 Schumann symphony cycle with the Vienna Philharmonic makes its first CD appearance here. It holds its own alongside three other superb contenders involving the same orchestra: Bernstein (DG), Muti (Philips), and Solti (Decca). Although Mehta does not match Bernstein’s elemental abandon nor Muti’s sveltely lyrical slow movements, his authoritative, deeply felt leadership inspires full-throated, highly articulated orchestral playing full of life and character. This partly is due to Mehta’s astutely-judged tempos. For example, the conductor emphasizes the “Spring” symphony finale’s “grazioso” melodicism and polyphonic interplay, thereby creating a stronger “animato” sense than we glean from
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faster yet less inflected, texturally varied performances.
The slow introductions to the Second and Fourth symphonies effortlessly and logically dovetail into their subsequent allegros, while the “Rhenish” first movement proves that swiftness and tonal heft are not mutually exclusive. Like Solti, Mehta allows the Vienna Philharmonic’s unique brass sonorities and sweetly singing yet never cloying strings their full due. Intense, dramatic, and committed performances of the Manfred and Genoveva Overtures fill out this most welcome reissue. - Jed Distler,
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Works on This Recording
2.
Symphony no 2 in C major, Op. 61 by Robert Schumann
Conductor:
Zubin Mehta
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1845-1846; Germany
4.
Symphony no 4 in D minor, Op. 120 by Robert Schumann
Conductor:
Zubin Mehta
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1851; Germany
6.
Genoveva, Op. 81: Overture by Robert Schumann
Conductor:
Zubin Mehta
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1846-1849; Germany
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