Hi-Res Downloads

96kHz/24-bit FLAC, ECM 4811369 (supplied by www.highresaudio.com)

Written for Joachim in 1853 (as was the more coherent Phantasy in C), Schumann’s Violin Concerto was suppressed until 1937 – with perhaps some justification. Zehetmair found many errors in the printed edition when preparing for his 1988 Teldec CD, and this is his second recording. Choosing a chamber orchestra for Schumann is now the norm but such is the reverberance of the venue, the Théâtre des Champs-Elyseés, it could be of any size. And I didn’t like effectively a separate acoustic for the solo violin. These two works with violin are fine but I’ve struggled with the symphony, which I just think is mediocre both as a recording and a performance, Zehetmair labouring rather obvious points. Certainly the orchestral playing in the Scottish CO/Ticciati Schumann cycle [Linn Records] is far superior. CB

Sound quality: 65%

Hi-Fi News Lab Report

Artistic interpretation notwithstanding, this 96kHz recording from the Théâtre des Champs-Elyseés is still very clean, albeit at a low mean level with occasional string-dominated flourishes above –10dBFs [trk7, see Graph]. PM