Philippe Jordan, Wiener Symphoniker - Schubert: Symphonies 7 & 8 (2015) [Official Digital Download 24-bit/96kHz]

Philippe Jordan has already established himself as one of the most gifted and exciting conductors manning the podiums before the worlds great concert hall stages. At present, he is Music Director of the Opéra National de Paris and Music Director of the Wiener Symphoniker, but his many past and present European orchestral engagements suggest a conductor highly respected and in great demand. Giving its first concert in its earliest incarnation at the very turn of 20th century, the Wiener Symphoniker, led here by Mr. Jordan in Franz Schubert's final two, and greatest, symphonies, handles the lions share of symphonic activity that makes up the musical life of the Austrian capital. The preservation of the traditional, Viennese orchestral sound occupies a central place in the orchestras various artistic pursuits.

Philippe Jordan and the Vienna Symphony performed Franz Schubert's Symphony No. 8 in B minor, "Unfinished," and the Symphony No. 9 in C major, "The Great," in two concerts at the Vienna Musikverein, and released the recordings in 2015 on the orchestra's own label. The performances are solid mainstream interpretations with some influence of period practice, insofar as repeats are taken, tempos are brisk, and the orchestra's sound is lean and bright, even with the use of modern instruments. This is increasingly the way Schubert is played by major symphony orchestras, so the Vienna Symphony really can't be faulted for not taking the plunge into historically informed practices, fully equipped with original instruments. However, the reproduction of both performances is curiously mixed, with a tinny quality in the upper registers of both strings and woodwinds, and the music at times seems filtered at the mixing board, rather than given full, natural tone and presence. If all that's needed is state-of-the-art audiophile technology, then it behooves the Vienna Symphony to upgrade to multichannel recording and the hybrid SACD format to give a better presentation of its sound and to win new fans, because the orchestra's committed playing certainly warrants it.

Tracklist:

01 - Symphony No. 8 in C Major, D. 944 'Great': I. Andante - Allegro ma non troppo
02 - Symphony No. 8 in C Major, D. 944 'Great': II. Andante con moto
03 - Symphony No. 8 in C Major, D. 944 'Great': III. Scherzo: Allegro vivace
04 - Symphony No. 8 in C Major, D. 944 'Great': IV. Allegro vivace
05 - Symphony No. 7 in B Minor, D. 759 'Unfinished': I. Allegro moderato
06 - Symphony No. 7 in B Minor, D. 759 'Unfinished': II. Andante con moto

Recorded at Musikverein, Vienna on November 15-16, 2014 ("5-6") & April 11-12 ("1-4").

Musicians:
Wiener Symphoniker
Philippe Jordan - conductor


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