GUNTER WAND CONDUCTS SCHUBERT (5 CDS)

Once again, the series offers cornerstones of the orchestral repertoire, including two complete symphony cycles. In the late 1970s and early 80s, Günter Wand, one of the most revered interpreters of the Austro-German repertoire, recorded all the Schubert symphonies with the Cologne Radio Symphony Orchestra. It is still a benchmark.

Reviewing the complete cycle, Gramophone singled out Wand’s “Unfinished” as an example of “what makes great conducting … The whole performance is illuminated by [his] insights … The orchestra play beautifully and obviously understand their longtime conductor’s every whim … No less wonderful is the performance of the Great C major, one of the finest on record.”

Schubert:
Symphony No. 1 in D major, D82
Symphony No. 2 in B flat major, D125
Symphony No. 3 in D major, D200
Symphony No. 6 in C major, D589
Symphony No. 4 in C minor, D417 'Tragic'
Symphony No. 8 in B minor, D759 'Unfinished'
Symphony No. 5 in B flat major, D485
Incidental music to Rosamunde, D797: excerpts
Symphony No. 9 in C major, D944 'The Great'

Kölner Rundfunk-Sinfonie-Orchester (WDR Sinfonieorchester), Günter Wand