Schmidt: Sinfonie No. 3 (2005)

A student of Anton Bruckner and a contemporary of Gustav Mahler, Franz Schmidt was an important figure in post-Romantic music, and his richly colored and expansive symphonies partake of the period's predilection for epic forms, rich orchestration, chromatic harmonies, and sweeping melodies. Fans of Schmidt's work would do well to snap up this studio recording by Fabio Luisi and the MDR Symphony Orchestra of the Symphony No. 3 in A major, since it has seen precious few releases on CD, and receives an eloquent reading here. ... Read More

A student of Anton Bruckner and a contemporary of Gustav Mahler, Franz Schmidt was an important figure in post-Romantic music, and his richly colored and expansive symphonies partake of the period's predilection for epic forms, rich orchestration, chromatic harmonies, and sweeping melodies. Fans of Schmidt's work would do well to snap up this studio recording by Fabio Luisi and the MDR Symphony Orchestra of the Symphony No. 3 in A major, since it has seen precious few releases on CD, and receives an eloquent reading here. Rich in sonority, sumptuous in textures, and ravishing in lyricism, this gorgeous symphony is attractive for its open-hearted expression, compelling for its subtle invention, and satisfying for its artistic wholeness. Perhaps it is in the nature of Schmidt's evolving, rolling phrases and swelling dynamics that rubato seems a necessary ingredient, and Luisi's tempos are quite elastic and usually lack a clearly defined beat. Yet the music's gentle lyricism, smooth counterpoint, and... Read Less