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Schubert: Symphonies 5 & 6 - de Vriend

Schubert: Symphonies 5 & 6 - de Vriend

Challenge Classics  CC 72803

Stereo/Multichannel Hybrid

Classical - Orchestral


Schubert: Symphonies 5 & 6

Residentie Orkest The Hague
Jan Willem de Vriend (conductor)


Schubert’s musical ideas at this time sometimes bear a family resemblance to themes by Mozart, Haydn or Beethoven, but nevertheless his own style was already precociously developed. One would not mistake his Fifth Symphony of 1816 for the work of any other composer, though its difference in character from the Fourth Symphony is equally striking. Here, omitting clarinets, trumpets or timpani, Schubert uses a reduced orchestration in comparison with his previous symphonies.

Schubert began his Sixth Symphony in October 1817 and completed it in the following February. The Sixth Symphony represents a sideways step in Schubert’s symphonic development, a digression which may be explained by the phenomenal popularity of Rossini. At this time Rossini’s operas were being received with tremendous enthusiasm in Vienna. Keen to earn a living from his compositions, Schubert now emulated aspects of the style which was enjoying such vogue.

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Comment by Marcus DiBenedetto - October 8, 2022 (1 of 3)

The album is now available for download on Bert van der Wolf's website, The Spirit of the Turtle. Hopefully, Adrian will review the SACD, as he has for all the others in this series. But, I would like to offer a comment on sonics. The recording was made in the orchestra's new home, Concertzaal Amare, The Hague, The Netherlands. There are a few photos of the new venue on the website. It does look impressive. Recordings were made 18-21 January and 5-7 July 2022. I have the multichannel surround DXD 24/352.8 version. It is also available in ATMOS/Auro 3D and Binaural (for headphones). The liner notes state that these Symphonies were composed for a smaller orchestra. The sound is anything but small. The orchestra filled my listening space in both breadth and depth. Maybe it's the new venue or maybe newer recording techniques, but I was very impressed with the quality of the sound. If you have the other volumes in this series, as I do, I don't think you'll want to miss this one.

Marcus DiBenedetto
Las Vegas, NV

Comment by Adrian Quanjer - December 25, 2022 (2 of 3)

Marcus,

Yesterday I listened to Vol. 4 in its physical format (SACD) and compared with several other versions in my possession. You are dead right about the sound. It’s impressive. But even a medium sized orchestra if recorded at high resolution by someone who is worth his salt, does fill up the room indeed.

As for comparison, Jan Willem blows away much of the competition. His survey, giving each symphony however different in character its full musical due, is in my view (I won’t do a revive) the one to have. (BTW, just like his Mendelssohn set).

On a sad note, Challenge Classics produces less and less SACD’s. Another physical Hi-Res source fading away in favour of quality downloads (Spirit of Turtle)? Example: Ars Antiqua Austria, Ivanschiz, Chamber music at the Abbey of Lambach, CC 72913 CD only, versus downloadable version: DSD 256 up to 5.1 surround or 5.1+4 immersive (should you like it).

Comment by Marcus DiBenedetto - December 26, 2022 (3 of 3)

Adrian. Thank you so much for your comment. While I feel fairly competent commenting on sonics, I must leave performance reviews to experts like you. I have the Mendelssohn set as well. I agree, both sets are wonderful.

There is merit to the physical disc but my choice is downloads. The multitude of streaming services providing immediate access to just about every title would seem to me to make SACD production prohibitively expensive. Luckily, we (I) still have access via download to the actual high resolution files used to produce SACDs. Personally, I prefer the 5.1 surround format. I have several 2L Blu-ray discs but have not warmed up to Auro 3D or ATMOS for music. The science behind binaural is impressive for headphone users.

EDIT: I've tried several streaming services. I don't like them.