SCHUBERT: Symphonies, Vol. 1: Nos. 1-4 & 8 - Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Zubin Mehta (2 CDs)

Between 1976 and 1978, Zubin Mehta and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra made recordings of the complete Schubert symphonies for Decca, as well as some of the incidental music for Rosamunde. Other than the Schumann symphonies, it was the only symphony cycle this tremendous Decca artist made for the label. The recordings were all made in the Mann Auditorium and were all produced by Ray Minshull, who, together with John Culshaw and Christopher Raeburn, worked extensively with Mehta during his exclusive Decca years. Volume 1 contains the first four symphonies as well as the mighty Eighth, the ‘Unfinished’.

"vital, well-styled’ (Nos. 1 & 2) Gramophone

‘Mehta secures neat, articulate, musically fluent performances from his Israeli orchestra and the Decca engineers reproduce them with admirable lucidity and absence of fuss’ (Nos. 4 & 8) Gramophone

‘Mehta directs a performance well inside the Viennese tradition … crisply pointed readings admirably suited to these youthful inspirations.’ (No. 3) Gramophone

SCHUBERT
CD1
Symphony No. 1 in D major, D.82
Symphony No. 2 in B flat major, D.125
Symphony No. 8 in B minor, D.759 ‘Unfinished’

CD2
Symphony No. 3 in D major, D.200
Symphony No. 4 in C minor ‘Tragic’, D.417

Israel Philharmonic Orchestra
Zubin Mehta