Repertoire: The BEST Schubert Symphony Cycles

There are an amazing number of very fine Schubert cycles, most of which no one especially cares about. The reason probably stems from the fact that the last two symphonies (the "Unfinished" and the "Great") are so much better known than the first six, and so most conductors stick with just those while ignoring the rest. Still, the fact remains that many conductors have done a terrific job with the whole set. Let me show you who they are.

[kinggeorge]

I love Schubert early symphonies. The 4th is would be my favorite, but I very much enjoy listen to any of 1-6. Very underappreciated pieces.

[sanfordpress]

I'm an amateur listener. You are fascinating. I could listen to you for hours ❤

[stradivariouspaul]

I've come to this late but have purchased the Blomstedt set so thank you! A consistently excellent set theoughout, with vibrant renditions of the early symphonies and top notch performances of 8 and 9. After the Berglund Sibelius this is the second symphonic boxed set I've chosen with your help and guidance so thanks!

[dianamcdougall]

I have the Wolfgang Sawallisch conducted cycle on Philips. I enjoy its liveliness and pacing a lot.

[VallaMusic]

Schubert Symphonies are especially near and dear to my heart - ha ! funny to hear you say Karajan did not care for Schubert - that figures ! - anyway I may be the only person on Earth whose favorite symphony by any composer is the Schubert 6th ("the Little") - no rhyme or reason to it except that for some reason i adore every phrase and note of it, giving me me more emotional and spiritual pleasure than any other symphony - as far as Schubert conductors go, you did not mention my favorite, Barenboim ! - c'est la vie! ( Barenboim is my favorite for Schumann as well ) - although i am happy you gave such well deserved praise for Ricardo Muti's Schubert

[stuartpascoe]

I am very grateful to you for recommending the Maag. I have loved my Wand set dearly for many years now, but found myself wanting to hear someone else who, well, wasn’t quite so completely reliable. Maag was my man. The playing is sometimes dire, let’s face it, and Maag himself sometimes miscalculates (e.g. first mvt of 9). But it all has such personality, imagination, conviction. He was a remarkable conductor, and thanks so much for reminding me of the fact.

[quietmind]

I have to tell you that the sound gag with Bruckner's name and the horses is bloody hysterical. Just like it was in Young Frankenstein each time Cloris Leachman appeared on the screen.

[mangstadt]

I bought the Kertész box ages ago and recently found the Blomstedt. Both very enjoyable. I've always had a soft spot for Schubert, for all of his music actually. I guess I'm not alone there.

[svendeckers]

Hmm. I feel like I just won the lottery. I ordered your top choice not 30 minute ago (before watching the video) because it was on sale. :-)

[ffmandal]

David-thank you for the Böhm/Staatskapelle Dresden recommendation. Just finished listening it and it was wonderful. The performance really had a great atmosphere from the start and the playing was top notch (apparently it was a farewell concert for him as well). Beautiful Oboe solo in the slow movement too. Thanks again!

[charleswoodard]

Wonderful survey of Schubert symphonies.

[petejilka]

I am partial to the Boehm /BPO cycle, but the Kertesz cycle is my favorite because iit is with the VPO. My all time favorite Vienna Philharmonic performance of Schubert is the live Boehm 9th on DVD.

[robert]

Hungarian independent BMC label released live recordings of the first 4 Schubert symphonies played by Camerata Academica conducted by Végh Sándor on 2 CDs. I think everybody who likes Végh and Schubert shoud have it. I just bought an other live Végh 2 CD released by BMC too. It contains 2 live Camerata Academica concerts at Budapest in the early 90's. It contains Coriolan overture, Haffner Symphony, Drumroll Symphony and the "Great" C major. Both the live Schubert and this album sounds marvellous. Orchestral playing is not always immaculate but considering these are live recordings it is not problem. I started to admire Végh's conducting. That musicality is gorgeous. And not like Széll it seems to me that he liked timpani. :-)

[MisterPathetique]

Maybe someone has already mentioned it in the comments, but I have to point out that Sándor Végh has also recorded symphonies 1 through 4, also with the Camerata Salzburg. You can find them on the BMC label.
So there is actually a complete cycle by Sándor Végh! Unfortunately you have to assemble two different sets, the Capriccio and the BMC. But it's definitely one of the absolute best, I don't know what was Brilliant Classics thinking when they picked Roy Goodman. Perhaps they couldn't license the early symphonies by Végh?

Also, I want to mention Hans Zender's cycle with Southwest German Radio on Hänssler. It's really quite good in my opinion, pretty consistent and magnificently recorded.

[anonymousremains]

an overflow room! ....love it! Schubert Cycles ...dreamy

[ElliottSalmon-oxgp]

Just send me one of your overflows 😂. Keep up the good work.

[samuelstephens]

Just listened to Gunter Wand conducting Schubert's second, and damn it's good! Always loved that piece, but this makes the best case for it I've heard. Major league stuff.

[JackBurttrumpetstuff]

Excellent overview of the Schubert cycle "problem". A cycle that really doesn't lend itself to one conductor or orchestra. The musical and emotional distance between the 1st and the 9th is so vast. Best quote: "Marriner gives faceless a new name..." Ha! Also, I think the both "mountain" covert arts are paintings of Caspar David Friedrich..

[MorganHayes_Composer.Pianist]

The first symphony ought to be better known. An irresistible piece, especially the 2nd subject of the 1st movement.

[HYPRKNECT]

Una vez terminado con Bruckner, empecé a escuchar este ciclo de sinfonías de Schubert y casi pasó lo mismo con Blomstedt.
"Una ejecución de música muy sabrosa, tan impactante como son las sinfonías de Beethoven"
(Tengo ese ciclo, bajo la interpretación de Harnoncourt y la orquesta de cámara de Europa).

Pero también agregue la 7°, los 2 movimientos restantes de la 8° & la 10° interpretada por Marriner, para compensar. Lo cual no afectó en nada si hablamos del equilibrio del pensamiento musical. (Se sentía muy vacío sin estos)

Para resumir, fue un deleite escuchar al "verdadero primogénito de Beethoven".
Ahora voy por las sinfonías de Beethoven por Wand, y terminar de escuchar esta tetralogía sinfónica.
Muchas gracias por la recomendación.