Günter Wand (1912-2002) was an outstanding conductor of Austro-German symphonic music. He came to prominence only in later life and during his 80s frequently guest-conducted the Berlin Philharmonic, making various live recordings along the way. This recording is billed as his last word on the subject (i.e. Schubert’s Great C major) and may have come from one of his last concerts. However, frustratingly, the documentation does not provide information on where (presumably the Philharmonie in Berlin) or when it was made. Not having a copy to hand, I can only assume that this is not the live recording made in 1995 with same forces and already issued in conjunction with Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony.

As one would expect, this is a fine interpretation and performance, caught on the wing, and well worth a hearing. It gathers power as it goes and the finale is a fittingly grand culmination. Unfortunately, and to my surprise, Wand’s Schubert does not smile a lot, particularly in the andante, and there is little Viennese charm. Against my prior prejudices (as an admirer of Wand’s Bruckner), I do not clearly prefer this recording to either Böhm’s 1963 reading with the same orchestra or Solti’s 1981 version with the Vienna Philharmonic.

The recording is quite closely balanced and the audience is also intermittently intrusive (for example at the end of the slow movement). At times there is a slight harshness in the tuttis and dynamic contrasts could have been greater.

Overall, a qualified welcome to this disc. Despite many good things, it is not the greatest of memorials to this conductor (that I suggest might be his final take on Bruckner’s 8^th Symphony), nor would it be my first choice for this symphony.

Patrick C Waller

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