About
Franz Schmidt 150 (1874-1939)
“In conversations about Franz Schmidt the recurring theme emerging for many is that listening to a performance of his music at a young age became the turning point in their lives the realization of how powerful music can be,” says Jonathan Berman, whose longtime love of Franz Schmidt’s work has its origins in a performance preparation for his Fourth Symphony.
Berman’s passion for Schmidt’s work and the composer’s upcoming 150th birthday in 2024 were key reasons for the conductor to approach the BBC National Orchestra of Wales to record all four symphonies together – a major project that also marks Jonathan Berman’s CD debut.
The recordings were realized between 2020 and 2022 at BBC Hoddinott Hall, the home of the BBC NOW in Cardiff. In November 2023, Accentus Music releases all four symphonies in a high-quality box set that will also be made available across all digital platforms. BBC Music Magazine wrote about the digital pre-release of the first symphony in March 2021: “Jonathan Berman and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales deliver a terrific performance which provides a fine alternative to the excellent version from Paavo Järvi. […] What really makes this new recording so enticing is the sheer energy and enthusiasm with which conductor and orchestra communicate the vigour and optimism of the opening movement.”
Produced in association with BBC Radio 3 and BBC National Orchestra of Wales.
REVIEW:
Following their highly acclaimed streamed recording of his First Symphony, Jonathan Berman and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales have now completed their Franz Schmidt symphony cycle. Packaged together in this sumptuously designed and luxuriantly recorded set, the performances of all four symphonies, released in celebration of the 150th anniversary of his birth, pay worthy tribute to an undeniably major late-Romantic Austrian composer who, despite the passage of time, continues to divide opinion.
With almost evangelical zeal, Berman staunchly defends Schmidt from his detractors by providing some insightful personal observations in the booklet notes and by investing sufficient energy and dedication in his interpretations to allow the music to speak directly and fervently to the listener.
Tracklist 18 tracks
- Disc 1
-
1 I. Sehr langsam - sehr lebhaft 11:43
- Track
- 1
- Title
- I. Sehr langsam - sehr lebhaft
- Duration
- 11:43
- Composer
- Franz Schmidt
- Ensemble
- BBC National Orchestra of Wales
- Conductor
- Jonathan Berman
-
2 II. Langsam 12:13
- Track
- 2
- Title
- II. Langsam
- Duration
- 12:13
- Composer
- Franz Schmidt
- Ensemble
- BBC National Orchestra of Wales
- Conductor
- Jonathan Berman
-
3 III. Schnell und leicht 12:35
- Track
- 3
- Title
- III. Schnell und leicht
- Duration
- 12:35
- Composer
- Franz Schmidt
- Ensemble
- BBC National Orchestra of Wales
- Conductor
- Jonathan Berman
-
4 IV. Lebhaft, doch nicht zu schnell 10:16
- Track
- 4
- Title
- IV. Lebhaft, doch nicht zu schnell
- Duration
- 10:16
- Composer
- Franz Schmidt
- Ensemble
- BBC National Orchestra of Wales
- Conductor
- Jonathan Berman
- Disc 2
-
1 I. Lebhaft 16:21
- Track
- 1
- Title
- I. Lebhaft
- Duration
- 16:21
- Composer
- Franz Schmidt
- Ensemble
- BBC National Orchestra of Wales
- Conductor
- Jonathan Berman
-
2 II. Allegretto con variazioni: Einfach und zart 19:52
- Track
- 2
- Title
- II. Allegretto con variazioni: Einfach und zart
- Duration
- 19:52
- Composer
- Franz Schmidt
- Ensemble
- BBC National Orchestra of Wales
- Conductor
- Jonathan Berman
-
3 III. Finale: Langsam 15:30
- Track
- 3
- Title
- III. Finale: Langsam
- Duration
- 15:30
- Composer
- Franz Schmidt
- Ensemble
- BBC National Orchestra of Wales
- Conductor
- Jonathan Berman
- Disc 3
-
1 I. Allegro molto moderato 15:59
- Track
- 1
- Title
- I. Allegro molto moderato
- Duration
- 15:59
- Composer
- Franz Schmidt
- Ensemble
- BBC National Orchestra of Wales
- Conductor
- Jonathan Berman
-
2 II. Adagio 10:47
- Track
- 2
- Title
- II. Adagio
- Duration
- 10:47
- Composer
- Franz Schmidt
- Ensemble
- BBC National Orchestra of Wales
- Conductor
- Jonathan Berman
-
3 III. Scherzo: Allegro vivace - Molto più tranquillo 11:12
- Track
- 3
- Title
- III. Scherzo: Allegro vivace - Molto più tranquillo
- Duration
- 11:12
- Composer
- Franz Schmidt
- Ensemble
- BBC National Orchestra of Wales
- Conductor
- Jonathan Berman
-
4 IV. Lento - Allegro vivace 12:41
- Track
- 4
- Title
- IV. Lento - Allegro vivace
- Duration
- 12:41
- Composer
- Franz Schmidt
- Ensemble
- BBC National Orchestra of Wales
- Conductor
- Jonathan Berman
- Disc 4
-
1 I. Allegro molto moderato - 14:50
- Track
- 1
- Title
- I. Allegro molto moderato -
- Duration
- 14:50
- Composer
- Franz Schmidt
- Ensemble
- BBC National Orchestra of Wales
- Conductor
- Jonathan Berman
-
2 II. Adagio - 13:40
- Track
- 2
- Title
- II. Adagio -
- Duration
- 13:40
- Composer
- Franz Schmidt
- Ensemble
- BBC National Orchestra of Wales
- Conductor
- Jonathan Berman
-
3 III. Molto vivace - 07:11
- Track
- 3
- Title
- III. Molto vivace -
- Duration
- 07:11
- Composer
- Franz Schmidt
- Ensemble
- BBC National Orchestra of Wales
- Conductor
- Jonathan Berman
-
4 IV. Tempo primo un poco sostenuto 10:21
- Track
- 4
- Title
- IV. Tempo primo un poco sostenuto
- Duration
- 10:21
- Composer
- Franz Schmidt
- Ensemble
- BBC National Orchestra of Wales
- Conductor
- Jonathan Berman
-
5 Notre Dame, Act I: Introduction 04:17
- Track
- 5
- Title
- Notre Dame, Act I: Introduction
- Duration
- 04:17
- Composer
- Franz Schmidt
- Ensemble
- BBC National Orchestra of Wales
- Conductor
- Jonathan Berman
-
6 Notre Dame, Act I: Intermezzo 03:38
- Track
- 6
- Title
- Notre Dame, Act I: Intermezzo
- Duration
- 03:38
- Composer
- Franz Schmidt
- Ensemble
- BBC National Orchestra of Wales
- Conductor
- Jonathan Berman
-
7 Notre Dame, Act I: Carnival Music 06:40
- Track
- 7
- Title
- Notre Dame, Act I: Carnival Music
- Duration
- 06:40
- Composer
- Franz Schmidt
- Ensemble
- BBC National Orchestra of Wales
- Conductor
- Jonathan Berman