This 2011 super-audio release of Franz Schubert's two most popular symphonies is an excellent choice for audiophiles who need these works in a glorious multichannel recording. But fans of historically informed practice will note that there's little to distinguish these performances from many mainstream offerings. The Musikkollegium Winterthur is a historic Swiss orchestra, founded in 1629, but no one should infer from that fact that it is an early music ensemble. To the contrary, the group plays modern instruments in a ...
Read More
This 2011 super-audio release of Franz Schubert's two most popular symphonies is an excellent choice for audiophiles who need these works in a glorious multichannel recording. But fans of historically informed practice will note that there's little to distinguish these performances from many mainstream offerings. The Musikkollegium Winterthur is a historic Swiss orchestra, founded in 1629, but no one should infer from that fact that it is an early music ensemble. To the contrary, the group plays modern instruments in a straightforward manner, and there is nothing especially true to the early Romantic period in Douglas Boyd's interpretations, except for his observance of repeats and apparent striving for clarity in his textures. This doesn't mean purists should turn their noses up at this performance, because these are excellent renditions, and the orchestra sounds remarkably clear and vibrant in MDG's unprocessed digital recording. The Symphony No. 8 in B minor, "Unfinished" (counted as No. 7 here...
Read Less
