Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR, Roger Norrington - Schumann: Symphonies Nos. 1-4 (2011)

Today, the German composer Robert Schumann has come to be identified as the definitive Romantic composer. He found his inspiration in literature and poetry, nature and folk song and encouraged other composers to find a more personal and subjective language for their music. It is perhaps because of this extremely individual approach to composition that the four Symphonies of Schumann have remained so controversial. During the late Romantic period, many conductors and composers would re-orchestrate (and sometimes even re-compose) Schumann’s symphonies to make them more effective in the concert hall. It was only late in the 20th century, when conductors like Roger Norrington and others in the Historically Informed Performance movement began to reexamine the scores of Schumann, and perform them as the composer originally intended. The result was a revelation - and essential for anyone interested in the music of Schumann.

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