Schubert: Symphonies, Vol. 3 City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra & Edward Gardner

• Franz Schubert (1797 - 1828): Symphony No. 1 in D Major, D 82:
• 1 Schubert: Symphony No. 1 in D Major, D 82: I. Adagio - Allegro vivace 11:49
• 2 Schubert: Symphony No. 1 in D Major, D 82: II. Andante 06:06
• 3 Schubert: Symphony No. 1 in D Major, D 82: III. Menuetto 04:02
• 4 Schubert: Symphony No. 1 in D Major, D 82: IV. Allegro vivace 06:05
• Symphony No. 4 in C Minor, D 417 "Tragic":
• 5 Schubert: Symphony No. 4 in C Minor, D 417 "Tragic": I. Adagio molto - Allegro vivace 09:12
• 6 Schubert: Symphony No. 4 in C Minor, D 417 "Tragic": II. Andante 08:29
• 7 Schubert: Symphony No. 4 in C Minor, D 417 "Tragic": III. Menuetto 02:59
• 8 Schubert: Symphony No. 4 in C Minor, D 417 "Tragic": IV. Allegro 10:40
• Fierrabras, D. 796:
• 9 Schubert: Fierrabras, D. 796: Overture 08:28
• Total Runtime 01:07:50

Info for Schubert: Symphonies, Vol. 3

For the third volume in their cycle of Schubert’s symphonies, Edward Gardner and the CBSO turn to the first and fourth symphonies. Composed in 1813, when Schubert was just sixteen, the First Symphony admirably demonstrates the young composer’s grasp of symphonic form and technique, and whilst the influences of Haydn, Mozart and early Beethoven are clearly audible, the spirit of Schubert’s own distinctive voice is certainly in evidence.

Composed three years later, in 1816, the ‘Tragic’ Fourth Symphony is scored for larger forces and is much more ambitious in outlook – Schubert seemingly anxious to create a more substantial work. He took more trouble to unify his thematic material across the four movements, and the symphony is clearly closer to the style of his later works. The Overture to his opera Fierrabras completes the album, which was recorded in Birmingham Town Hall.

City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Edward Gardner, conductor

Edward Gardner
Chief Conductor of the Bergen Philharmonic since October 2015, Edward Gardner has led the orchestra on multiple international tours, including performances in Berlin, Munich and Amsterdam and at the BBC Proms and Edinburgh International Festival. Edward was recently appointed Principal Conductor Designate of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, with his tenure commencing in September 2021.

In demand as a guest conductor, the previous two seasons saw Edward debut with the New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, Wiener Symphoniker and the Royal Opera House in a new production of Káťa Kabanová (praised as a ‘magnificent interpretation’ by The Guardian); while returns included engagements with the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Philharmonia Orchestra and Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala di Milano. In April 2019, he conducted the London Philharmonic Orchestra at the Lincoln Center in New York.

The 2019/20 season sees Edward appear at the Royal Opera House — for a revival of Benoît Jacquot’s production of Werther — and Metropolitan Opera for performances of Le damnation de Faust. In London he conducts the London Philharmonic Orchestra in four concerts across the season and brings the Bergen Philharmonic to the Royal Festival Hall with their acclaimed Peter Grimes. He finishes the season by taking the Bergen Philharmonic on their first ever tour to China. Guest conducting highlights include performances with the San Francisco Symphony, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra and Montreal Symphony Orchestra.

Music Director of English National Opera for ten years (2006-15), Edward has an ongoing relationship with New York’s Metropolitan Opera where he has conducted productions of Carmen, Don Giovanni, Der Rosenkavalier and Werther. Elsewhere, he has conducted at La Scala, Chicago Lyric Opera, Glyndebourne Festival Opera and Opéra National de Paris.

Booklet for Schubert: Symphonies, Vol. 3