Antwerp Symphony Orchestra & Philippe Herreweghe - Schumann: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 4 (2019) [Official Digital Download 24/96]

Philippe Herreweghe and the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra explore the tormented world of Robert Schumann. Symphonies Nos. 2 and 4 plunge us into the psychological tangles of the composer’s mind, reflecting his relentless struggle with melancholy and depression. In these two seminal works, a slow and sombre introduction unveils the main motifs that will unfold throughout, before culminating in an emphatic and optimistic finale. The director from Ghent (and former psychiatrist) Philippe Herreweghe manages to grasp the full complexity of this cathartic process leading us from darkness into light. He delivers a lively and urgent interpretation of these romantic masterpieces, confirming his reputation as an unrivalled performer of the German repertoire.

Tracklist:
1. Symphony No. 2 in C Major, Op. 61: I. Sostenuto assai – Allegro ma non troppo (12:28)
2. Symphony No. 2 in C Major, Op. 61: II. Scherzo (Allegro vivace) (7:16)
3. Symphony No. 2 in C Major, Op. 61: III. Adagio espressivo (8:12)
4. Symphony No. 2 in C Major, Op. 61: IV. Allegro molto vivace (8:44)
5. Symphony No. 4 in D Minor, Op. 120: I. Ziemlich langsam – Lebhaft (10:00)
6. Symphony No. 4 in D Minor, Op. 120: II. Romanze (Ziemlich langsam) (3:34)
7. Symphony No. 4 in D Minor, Op. 120: III. Scherzo (Lebhaft) (6:21)
8. Symphony No. 4 in D Minor, Op. 120: IV. Langsam – Lebhaft (8:11)