Schumann Symphony No. 3 'Rhenish' - orchestration by Veniamin (Benjamin) Tolba

[obermann]

Re. Karajan couldn't agree more. My introduction to Schumann was the Bernstein/VPO set. It seems willful now but like the best of late Bernstein has its heart on its sleeve, something I admire. And while I understand the general criticism of Schumann's orchestration I have come to feel a sympathetic conductor can easily find a way through it. One of the my favourite sets is the Holliger/Audite cycle, which has a beautiful freshness to it. There is a HIP influence in some of the playing but Holliger does so much good work to bring out the tenderness in Schumann. And Sinopoli's Dresden set was also more than fine IMO.

[Alan Howe]

The key test for me is how a conductor handles the slow movement of Symphony No.2. If the strings play without vibrato, I won't bother with the rest.