Franz Schmidt(1874-1939)

[SurprisedByBeauty]

Thanks for the list.  I'm interested in hearing Book with Seven Seals soon, so I think I'll check out Mitropoulos and Welser-Most.

Delighted to be of service in any small way. 

[Mahlerian]

Delighted to be of service in any small way. 

Even if we hold different views about a whole bunch of things, I always find reading your take enlightening.  (More so than Hurwitz...)

[SurprisedByBeauty]

Even if we hold different views about a whole bunch of things, I always find reading your take enlightening.  (More so than Hurwitz...)

Thanks. Different views are the spice and necessity of an invariably subjective topic like art. As long as you know that I take everything I say myself with just a grain of salt.
(I.e. I know that even opinions I dearly hold are ultimately just that.)


I did NOT read your addendum, nor will I comment on it. 

[André]

Cross-posted from the WAYL2 thread:

Schmidt's The Book with Seven Seals is growing on me. I listened to the EMI version (Welser-Möst) a few weeks ago. It seemed to me that more could be done of the work's often jagged rythms, which generate much of the drama. Mitropoulos certainly gives the work its due when it comes to its theatrical side. But he (Mitropoulos) was a mystic, which also comes across in the way he shapes the orchestral narrative, especially in the all-important visions of St John. The latter's part is declaimed, not sung. Anton Dermota's immense experience as the Evangelist in many performances/recordings of Bach's Passions really tells. His beautiful, plangent, slightly nasal tone is always at the service of his sensitivity to the text. Stig Andersen on EMI is very good, but Dermota simply is St John.

The other singers do not have all that much to say or sing, but it is well done. The solo soprano, alto and tenor parts are unusually small. The bass (excellent Walter Berry) gets to sing with them and, in this recording, sing the lines of Jesus as well (W-M has two basses, which is a waste IMO). The chorus sings well but, except in the mighty concluding Hallelujah chorus they do not seem to be in large numbers, possibly the fault of a slightly recessed sound. Ditto with the orchestra. If told they were the Bochumer Symphoniker, instead of the Wiener Philharmoniker, I would have believed it. Not that they play badly, just that the recording (live, mono) does them no favour and cannot hold a candle to the fine 1997 Herkulessaal effort from the EMI team.

So it is. Mitropoulos and his forces penetrate the spirit and musical idiom of Schmidt's gnarly masterpiece to startling effect. I prefer it to the Welser-Möst performance. It is much more gripping. On the technical side one cannot ignore the fact that this work cries out for the full splendour modern recording techniques can reveal. An important historical document then, but a second choice to a more modern recording of equal artistic merit - which I have yet to discover.

[André]

Cross-posted from the WAYL2 thread

Works for piano, left hand and orchestra, commissioned by - who else? - Paul Wittgenstein. Schmidt also wrote three large-scale piano (left hand) quintets for him.

The Concertante Variations (1923) are based on a well-known theme from Beethoven's Spring sonata. The theme is stated only after a beautiful, substantial introduction. Anyone who likes the Reger sets of orchestral variations (Mozart, Hiller, Telemann, Beethoven) will enjoy this very fine piece.

The concerto (1934) is less conversational in manner, with lengthy solos for the pianist. It is a more serious piece, sometimes hinting at Rachmaninoff.

Production values are high. This record is part of the MDR Edition under Maestro Luisi on the Querstand label. Superb sound. Recommended if the style appeals.

[Symphonic Addict]

I'm listening to the 4th of this recent release, and I must say it is succeeding my expectations. Truly imposing performance with an unbeatable sound quality. Sounds spacious, vivid, moving, and even sensuous in some parts. The 2nd movement is incredible! It may be better than the Mehta recording.

[vandermolen]

I'm listening to the 4th of this recent release, and I must say it is succeeding my expectations. Truly imposing performance with an unbeatable sound quality. Sounds spacious, vivid, moving, and even sensuous in some parts. The 2nd movement is incredible! It may be better than the Mehta recording.

From the sample extracts on amazon it sounded like a truly great performance. This was reinforced by a friend of mine who has the set.

[Symphonic Addict]

From the sample extracts on amazon it sounded like a truly great performance. This was reinforced by a friend of mine who has the set.

It is, Jeffrey. Astonishing to say the least. One of the best releases DG has issued recently. This work deserves to get it.

[Cato]

I'm listening to the 4th of this recent release, and I must say it is succeeding my expectations. Truly imposing performance with an unbeatable sound quality. Sounds spacious, vivid, moving, and even sensuous in some parts. The 2nd movement is incredible! It may be better than the Mehta recording.

From the sample extracts on amazon it sounded like a truly great performance. This was reinforced by a friend of mine who has the set.

It is, Jeffrey. Astonishing to say the least. One of the best releases DG has issued recently. This work deserves to get it.

So does this set surpass those of Sinaisky and Jaervi Senior?

[Symphonic Addict]

So does this set surpass those of Sinaisky and Jaervi Senior?

I don't know the Sinaisky, but this P. Järvi is much better than the N. Järvi on Chandos.

[kyjo]

I'm listening to the 4th of this recent release, and I must say it is succeeding my expectations. Truly imposing performance with an unbeatable sound quality. Sounds spacious, vivid, moving, and even sensuous in some parts. The 2nd movement is incredible! It may be better than the Mehta recording.

I listened to it recently as well and completely agree with you. What an incredibly moving work, undoubtedly one of the great symphonies of the 20th century and a masterpiece of cyclic form. The way Schmidt weaves the material of the opening trumpet lament into the work at various points is really masterful.

[Cato]

I'm listening to the 4th of this recent release, and I must say it is succeeding my expectations. Truly imposing performance with an unbeatable sound quality. Sounds spacious, vivid, moving, and even sensuous in some parts. The 2nd movement is incredible! It may be better than the Mehta recording.

So does this set surpass those of Sinaisky and Jaervi Senior?

I don't know the Sinaisky, but this P. Järvi is much better than the N. Järvi on Chandos.

Thank you!  Somebody on Amazon, who claims to be a great expert on the 4 symphonies of Schmidt, complained of the ambience and sound of the DGG recordings, but others agree with you.

[Mirror Image]

I never had much time for Schmidt. I find that many of his musical ideas just don't stick well with me. It's almost like he's struggling to find a compositional voice of his own and never could find it. His 4th symphony is probably the one that is the more personally affecting to me, but, by this time, he was already late in compositional career having died six years later from the completion of this symphony. It seems that personal tragedy brought out the more personal voice of his music.

[vandermolen]

I never had much time for Schmidt. I find that many of his musical ideas just don't stick well with me. It's almost like he's struggling to find a compositional voice of his own and never could find it. His 4th symphony is probably the one that is the more personally affecting to me, but, by this time, he was already late in compositional career having died six years later from the completion of this symphony. It seems that personal tragedy brought out the more personal voice of his music.

Yes, it is the 4th which has really stood out for me. I'm only really familiar with Mehta's pioneering performance, which I originally owned on LP.

[Mirror Image]

Yes, it is the 4th which has really stood out for me. I'm only really familiar with Mehta's pioneering performance, which I originally owned on LP.

A fine performance and, yeah, I'm not too familiar with many other performances.

[Symphonic Addict]

I listened to it recently as well and completely agree with you. What an incredibly moving work, undoubtedly one of the great symphonies of the 20th century and a masterpiece of cyclic form. The way Schmidt weaves the material of the opening trumpet lament into the work at various points is really masterful.

A masterpiece for sure. The Mehta recording and this one do justice to the work.

[Symphonic Addict]

So does this set surpass those of Sinaisky and Jaervi Senior?





Thank you!  Somebody on Amazon, who claims to be a great expert on the 4 symphonies of Schmidt, complained of the ambience and sound of the DGG recordings, but others agree with you.

That guy must be too picky then. That's a stunning performance and recording to my ears.

[Cato]

That guy must be too picky then. That's a stunning performance and recording to my ears.

Many thanks for your opinion!  Our members here are the most trustworthy!   0:) 0:) 0:)

[Mirror Image]

I never had much time for Schmidt. I find that many of his musical ideas just don't stick well with me. It's almost like he's struggling to find a compositional voice of his own and never could find it. His 4th symphony is probably the one that is the more personally affecting to me, but, by this time, he was already late in compositional career having died six years later from the completion of this symphony. It seems that personal tragedy brought out the more personal voice of his music.

Another example of me eating my own words. I've come to enjoy more of this composer's music lately. Namely, the 2nd symphony, which is an absolute treasure chest of beautiful ideas. The opening motif alone sends me to quite a tranquil and sunlit place. It also reminds me of spring for some odd reason. Almost like a reawakening of the spirit in a way. Looking forward to digging into the 1st and 3rd symphonies, which I don't know well at all.

[André]

Well, at least you're making amends by adopting him as your avatar - for now  .