Schubert: Symphonies Nos 3 & 4 (Tragic)

Franz Schubert Symphonies Nos 3 & 4
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Artist: Pablo Heras-Casado, Freiburger Barockorchester, Franz Schubert
Genre: Classical
Label: Harmonia Mundi

The symphonies Schubert wrote as a teenager took a long time to reach the public. The Third and Fourth weren't heard complete in public concerts until 1881 and 1849, respectively 53 and 21 years after the composer's death. But they have survived in concert life while the bulk of contemporary symphonies written by composers more celebrated than Schubert was in his lifetime have faded from view. Pablo Heras-Casado's sparking performance of the Third, bursting with joie de vivre, and his sinewy directness in the darker Fourth, subtitled Tragic by Schubert himself, show just how rewarding these two works can be. The period instrument colours and textures of the Freiburger Barockorchester's playing are especially appealing. url.ie/55ay

Michael Dervan

Michael Dervan

Michael Dervan is a music critic and Irish Times contributor