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Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Symphony No 9 in C major D944 The Great (1828) Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra/Günter Wand Rec. live, no other recording information. DDD BMG RCA CLASSICS 82876 59425 2 [52:40]

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 8th Symphony), nor would it be my first choice for this symphony. Patrick C Waller Advertising Rates Visitor stats MusicWeb International has over 40,000 Classical CD reviews on offer Discs received Having a problem Donating? Gerard Hoffnung Concerts & The Bricklayer Story MusicWeb can now offer you discs from the following catalogues: Prices include postage There will be NO VAT Rises [Acte Préalable £13.50] [Arcodiva £12.00] [Avie from £6.25] [British Music Society £12.00] [CDACCORD from £13.50 ] [ClassicO £12.50] [Hallé from £11] [Heritage £10] [Hortus £14.99 ] [Lyrita ONLY £11.75 ] [Nimbus Special prices] [Northern Flowers £13.50] [REDCLIFFE £11 ] [Sheva £11] [Tactus £11.50 ] [Talent from £12.00 ] [Toccata Classics £10.50 ] Musicweb Special Offers Monthly Best Buys   New Releases New Releases   MusicWeb sells the Polish catalogue CDAccord £10.50 post free W-W MusicWeb sells the Arcodiva catalogue £12.00 post free W-W £11.75 post-free world- wide     Google Ads - for information about privacy matters, click here.  Amazon Musicweb International is a participant in the Amazon EU Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com

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