This release by the
Residentie Orkest The Hague
and conductor
Jan Willem de Vriend
is part of a complete cycle of
Schubert
symphonies by the group. The cycle has attracted attention for a couple of reasons. First is the surround sound recording configuration by the
Challenge Classics
label, which is undeniably innovative and results in a unique transparency from the orchestra. It works better in some pieces than in others -- it is, after all, not authentic -- but listeners should hear it for themselves.
De Vriend
pairs this sound with textures derived from historical performance techniques (although modern instruments are used); the string sound has little vibrato, and prominence is given to the winds and especially the brass. It is a distinctive sound that has been acclaimed on some other items in the series, and it is worth hearing here. The
Symphony No. 8 in B minor ("Unfinished")
is taken at a quick clip and comes out rather choppy, with the brass dividing the music into episodes; the famous second subject loses its Viennese quality. One might think that the relatively large size of the
Residentie Orkest
would work against their performances of the teenage
's
Symphony No. 1 in D major, D. 82
, and
Symphony No. 3 in D major, D. 200
, but actually,
de Vriend
's readings catch the young
's ambitions as he expands on models from
Mozart
and especially
Haydn
; the latter's symphonies might easily have been performed by an orchestra this size. These are punchy, individual performances that deserve to be heard. ~ James Manheim