Search - Franz [Vienna] Schubert, Günter Wand, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra :: Schubert: Symphony No. 9

Another routine Wand reading, but the Berliners play gorgeou

Santa Fe Listener | Santa Fe, NM USA | 06/30/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Gunter Wand ended his years as an acclaimed conducotr, largely thanks to English critics who kept pushing his recordings, and RCA booked the Berlin Phil. for him several times. Wand worked as a provincial conductor, but he was a perfectionist, and it was expensive to give him all the rehearsal time he demanded. The rave reviews below point out that the orchestra plays gorgeously, and the sonics are clear and natural.



Let me call a spade a spade, however. The Berliners can play the Schubert Ninth in their sleep, and I don't hear anything that speaks of deep, prolonged rehearsal (not to mention that RCA fogot to provide a filler--52 min. leaves plenty of room for Wand's Schubert Unfinished). If you're serious about calling a performance great, doesn't there have to be an interpretation? Wand provides us with updated Ormandy--gorgeous sounds in the service of innocuous musicianship. Tempos are moderate throughout, accents aren't touched very hard, the line flows smoothly. If that's all you demand from a masterpiece, here it is."

Absolutley Stunning

Prescott Cunningham Moore | 07/25/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This performance is truly a testament not only to Schubert's genius, but also to Gunter Wand's genius as a conductor. Never before have I heard such a well groomed, polished, balanced, and rehearsed performance, even more shocking considering this is a live performance of the Great Symphony. At the same time, this performance sounds spontaneous, alive, and vibrant. This is truly the best classical CD I own. Its honestly hard to write a review for this CD because there is so little to say; Wand and the BPO say everything already. This is the definitive Schubert Ninth."

Terrific

J. F. Laurson | Washington, DC United States | 12/09/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is Wand at his best: Lightness *and* grandeur, polish but never glib, involved but not 'in heat'...



Yes, it isn't an "interpretation". Wand takes himself out of the equation in the process of music-making, leaving just Schubert. But Schubert was a composer who doesn't need "interpreting", he is great just speaking for himself. The BPh assures that that happens at the highest imaginable level of quality.



Sound is excellent, not just for a live recording but any recording. Along with Schubert's 5th with the NDR (his last recording), this is the best Wand/Schubert recording and certainly one of the best recordings of the 9th I have."