Notes and Editorial Reviews
SCHUBERT
Symphonies Nos. 5 and 6
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David Zinman, cond; Zurich Tonhalle O
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RCA 46336 (60:15)
This CD is the latest release in what will eventually be a “complete” Schubert symphony cycle. Consider the quotation marks a sort of disclaimer since I don’t know just how complete the series will turn out to be. As one who preferred Zinman’s earlier Baltimore cycle of Schumann symphonies to his once-over-lightly remake in Zurich and sometimes suspected him of conducting the metronome markings instead of the music in
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his Beethoven symphony cycle, I was a skeptic before hearing these two Schubert performances. I still wonder what his Ninth will be like. I guess it will be labeled as “No. 8,” in keeping with the recent and unnecessary renumbering of Schubert’s symphonies. I hope he doesn’t do all the repeats as he does on these two earlier and slighter pieces. In any event, these are lively, straightforward performances that never struck me as too fast and breathless. They have enough weight and are quite detailed, and should be a delight for those who don’t like to hear this music lingered over. Minimal vibrato, all repeats, fairly fast tempos…the whole HIP
shtick
except that Zinman prefers modern instruments.
FANFARE: James Miller
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