Complete Schubert Symphonies on Period Instruments

[San Antone]

The only complete cycles of Schubert symphonies on PI that I know of are the Bruggen, Immerseel and Minkowski.  I've heard some of all of them and cannot pick a favorite.  I don't think one could go wrong with any of them but the Bruggen may be harder to find.

[Opus106]

The only complete cycles of Schubert symphonies on PI that I know of are the Bruggen, Immerseel and Minkowski.

And now you may add Goodman.

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[San Antone]

And now you may add Goodman.

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You're right!   And I think I was even aware of that one but have never heard it.

Thanks for noting it.

[Parsifal]

I really love Minkowski, his Mozart symphonies are for me almost as good as those of Jacobs, and I was absolutlely fond of his Haydn London symphonies (except the one famous movement). I really hate Hurwitz opaque intelligence. But he found the perfect word for this set. Soulless. Alas.

Am I really supposed to learn anything about these performances from the claim that they are "soulless."  It would be beneath your dignity to say something tangible about what the performances sound like?

[SonicMan46]

Hi All - been away for a few days visiting my son in Indianapolis - saw Diana Krall @ Butler University & had some great food!

NOW - Immerseel, Goodman, & Minkowski in the Symphonies - looking forward to comments - only own the Immerseel in this comparison!

BUT, the most recent issue of Fanfare (May-June 2013) has almost a scolding attack of Imeerseel's approach & performance of the Schubert Symphonies - hey, I own and really enjoy this recording - I've attached that review by a guy who I don't know that well (assume he hates PI attempts?) - looking forward to some debate on that review - Dave

[San Antone]

I thought the review was going along okay, i.e. for someone who comes across as not having much experience with HIP - but that last sentence sent him right over the edge into Don Vroon land.

[SonicMan46]

I thought the review was going along okay, i.e. for someone who comes across as not having much experience with HIP - but that last sentence sent him right over the edge into Don Vroon land.

Hi San Antone - ROFLMAO - 

BOY - what an analogy!   Now, I subscribe to the American Record Guide but about to drop my subscription - in part (OR, maybe the reason?) because a year or more back I sent Don Vroon an email complaining that he should have his publication archived (like Fanfare) for his subscribers to search easily through previous issues going back for years - unreasonable?  WELL, not to me - in a shocking surprise he responded almost immediately basically stated that I had a lousy suggestion because most of his subscribers did not even own computers!  NOW, I'm NOT lying - and this is a pretty good approximation of his response - for me, I did not feel that a response would help (like convincing a blacksmith @ the turn to the 20th century not to buy a Model T from Henry Ford) -   Dave

[Gurn Blanston]

Hi San Antone - ROFLMAO - 

BOY - what an analogy!   Now, I subscribe to the American Record Guide but about to drop my subscription - in part (OR, maybe the reason?) because a year or more back I sent Don Vroon an email complaining that he should have his publication archived (like Fanfare) for his subscribers to search easily through previous issues going back for years - unreasonable?  WELL, not to me - in a shocking surprise he responded almost immediately basically stated that I had a lousy suggestion because most of his subscribers did not even own computers!  NOW, I'm NOT lying - and this is a pretty good approximation of his response - for me, I did not feel that a response would help (like convincing a blacksmith @ the turn to the 20th century not to buy a Model T from Henry Ford) -   Dave

I suppose he took a poll on Facebook to discover that gem of information. Wonder who replied? Nobody? Go figure!   

Now, some of you may argue that Haydn routinely had an orchestra of 95 in London, but Gurn will quickly tell you that you are full of crap. 45 is far closer to the truth. Of course, he felt like he was swimming in musicians at that.

[Geo Dude]

I'd say he went into Don Vroon (or Hurwitz) land starting with what followed after "But..."

Hi San Antone - ROFLMAO - 

BOY - what an analogy!   Now, I subscribe to the American Record Guide but about to drop my subscription - in part (OR, maybe the reason?) because a year or more back I sent Don Vroon an email complaining that he should have his publication archived (like Fanfare) for his subscribers to search easily through previous issues going back for years - unreasonable?  WELL, not to me - in a shocking surprise he responded almost immediately basically stated that I had a lousy suggestion because most of his subscribers did not even own computers!  NOW, I'm NOT lying - and this is a pretty good approximation of his response - for me, I did not feel that a response would help (like convincing a blacksmith @ the turn to the 20th century not to buy a Model T from Henry Ford) -   Dave

My uncle has been generous enough to send me some copies of ARC, but I refuse on principle to subscribe until David Vroon is gone as a result of his need to shove his politics down readers' throats in his editorials. (It's a damn classical recordings magazine, not Rolling Stone.)  Well, that's part of the reason; he also donates editorial time to Luddite nonsense so him giving you that line--which he no doubt is delusional enough to believe--is no surprise, and his ridiculous reviews of period instrument recordings don't help matters either.  I don't mind that he's not a fan of period instruments, but he should hand those over to reviewers who can be objective rather than using his reviews as a bully pulpit to rant about period instruments.

[Carnivorous Sheep]

Hi All - been away for a few days visiting my son in Indianapolis - saw Diana Krall @ Butler University & had some great food!

NOW - Immerseel, Goodman, & Minkowski in the Symphonies - looking forward to comments - only own the Immerseel in this comparison!

BUT, the most recent issue of Fanfare (May-June 2013) has almost a scolding attack of Imeerseel's approach & performance of the Schubert Symphonies - hey, I own and really enjoy this recording - I've attached that review by a guy who I don't know that well (assume he hates PI attempts?) - looking forward to some debate on that review - Dave

The Bruggen is fantastic in my opinion, one of my favorite complete sets of Schubert symphonies.

[SonicMan46]

The only complete cycles of Schubert symphonies on PI that I know of are the Bruggen, Immerseel and Minkowski.  I've heard some of all of them and cannot pick a favorite.  I don't think one could go wrong with any of them but the Bruggen may be harder to find.

Hello SanAntone - I've been reading reviews on the Minkowski PI set (own his recordings of Haydn's London Symphonies) - just curious since these are 'live' recordings whether there is much 'audience noise'?  I don't mind a little but not sure that I could tolerate loud applause after the end of each work - thanks for any comments - Dave

[San Antone]

Hello SanAntone - I've been reading reviews on the Minkowski PI set (own his recordings of Haydn's London Symphonies) - just curious since these are 'live' recordings whether there is much 'audience noise'?  I don't mind a little but not sure that I could tolerate loud applause after the end of each work - thanks for any comments - Dave

Hi Dave - I don't remember applause off the top of my head, but I'll have to double check and report back.

UPDATE: No applause at the end of the 6th.

[dimmer]

Hello SanAntone - I've been reading reviews on the Minkowski PI set (own his recordings of Haydn's London Symphonies) - just curious since these are 'live' recordings whether there is much 'audience noise'?  I don't mind a little but not sure that I could tolerate loud applause after the end of each work - thanks for any comments - Dave

No audience applause, and very quiet during the performances too (in fact unnoticeable)

I was interested in the Immerseel set at the time of purchasing this Minkowski one, but remembering his tepid Beethoven symphonies, and ho hum, undercharacterized Mozart piano concertos, I talked myself out of it. Maybe he is a better Schubertian however?

[SonicMan46]

No audience applause, and very quiet during the performances too (in fact unnoticeable)

I was interested in the Immerseel set at the time of purchasing this Minkowski one, but remembering his tepid Beethoven symphonies, and ho hum, undercharacterized Mozart piano concertos, I talked myself out of it. Maybe he is a better Schubertian however?

Thanks for the information - as I recall, his 'live' Haydn London Symphonies have no audience noise (unless @ the very end - don't rememberl @ the moment) - Dave

[Brian]

Thanks for the information - as I recall, his 'live' Haydn London Symphonies have no audience noise (unless @ the very end - don't rememberl @ the moment) - Dave

Wait, I thought I remembered hearing the audience gasp in surprise during Minkowski's "Surprise" Symphony!

I personally like Immerseel's Beethoven, so maybe I can't help dimmer make up his/her mind, but I just auditioned Immerseel's Schubert 2 and it was punchy, rhythmically tight, and as bubbly as one could wish. 

[SonicMan46]

Wait, I thought I remembered hearing the audience gasp in surprise during Minkowski's "Surprise" Symphony!

I personally like Immerseel's Beethoven, so maybe I can't help dimmer make up his/her mind, but I just auditioned Immerseel's Schubert 2 and it was punchy, rhythmically tight, and as bubbly as one could wish. 

Brian - you're right - but that was just a momentary shocker!    I'll have to replay those discs - can't remember much else - Dave

[Brian]

Did anybody ever listen to this late 2021 symphony cycle and compare it to other HIP Schubert symphonies by, e.g., Anima Eterna/Immerseel or Minkowski or the ongoing Rene Jacobs?

[vers la flamme]

The Goodman/Hanover Band cycle seems to be widely hated for having apparently been recorded in an airplane hanger, but I personally like it. My favorite Schubert cycle however is Harnoncourt in Amsterdam. Not period instruments but Harnoncourt does give his personal touch to the music, which may involve somewhat "historically informed" performance practices. 

[Peter Power Pop]

The Goodman/Hanover Band cycle seems to be widely hated for having apparently been recorded in an airplane hanger, but I personally like it. My favorite Schubert cycle however is Harnoncourt in Amsterdam. Not period instruments but Harnoncourt does give his personal touch to the music, which may involve somewhat "historically informed" performance practices.

I second that vote for Harnoncourt's Schubert symphony cycle. It's mighty enjoyable.

[Gurn Blanston]

Did anybody ever listen to this late 2021 symphony cycle and compare it to other HIP Schubert symphonies by, e.g., Anima Eterna/Immerseel or Minkowski or the ongoing Rene Jacobs?

I never even saw that set! But I'm quite fond of those players,  I'll have to check it out.  This thread seems to be the place to discover how the band you like in everything else seems to suck in Schubert.  We'll see.  🤔

🤠😎