★★★★☆ Gorgeous, ravishing readings, but Rattle can be emotionally removed

Schumann: The Symphonies

This new set of the Schumann symphonies is an historic release, as it marks the beginning of the Berlin Philharmonic's new enterprise as a label. I'm enthusiastic about the prospect, which should enable the orchestra to release whatever it wants to, without having to please a major record label. This set should have been the orchestra's last release with EMI, but we hear that EMI turned them down, saying the symphonies wouldn't sell. Freed from restriction, the orchestra hopes also hopes to release the symphonies of Beethoven, Sibelius, and Lutosławski. I'm thrilled to bits.

For now, the orchestra is making the listener spend a pretty penny to hear their CDs. I downloaded the set from iTunes for $25, which was by far the cheapest price I could find. The physical CD comes in a luxury package with multiple playing formats, bonus Blu-rays, and a ticket to the Digital Concert Hall. Rather elitist, it seems, but as soon as I started listening, I was floored by the sound quality, which is far above what EMI produced for the orchestra. It's clear, vivid, and natural, the closest I've heard a  recording come to capturing their sound live.

Many critics have slaughtered Rattle for his interpretations of German classics, but his Brahms, Strauss, and Bruckner have been marvelous. How is his Schumann? It turns out to be fairly nondescript, if played with virtuosity to ravish the ears. Rattle believes that Schumann's orchestration should sound like Mendelssohn, and the transparency and chamber-like intimacy of the playing fits the bill. I only wish there was more depth. The sound is exuberant, worlds away from being ponderous, but there's a slight feeling of superficiality.

Truly this set gives way to none in terms of the playing and detail. Many moments come to life with sparkling clarity. And for some of the symphonies, Rattle sounds better. In the "Rhenish", Rattle comes within an inch of being fully captivating--there's just a slight reserve. And Rattle chooses the earlier version of the 4th Symphony, finding the revised version to be depressing and heavy. So we have a graceful, elegant 4th that doesn't have much passion. Is lightness better than struggle? The 1st Symphony can likewise feel too measured and delicate, although the 2nd Symphony is a tad too sober; at least Rattle doesn't rush the flow. It's hard to find perfect Schumann, but Bernstein with the New York Philharmonic is a wonder.

I can't give this set my full recommendation, then, but I'm left very hopeful for the label's future. The engineers have captured the sound with incredible realism. And if I disagree with a lot of Rattle's choices, the set is still littered with moments of inspiration. Die-hard fans of the orchestra will return to the set for its splendor and beauty, which are on a dream, world-class plane. Count me among them.