ROBERT SCHUMANN (1810-1856): Symphonies No. 3 in E Flat, Op. 97 “Rhenish” and No. 4 in D Minor, Op. 120 (both re-orchestrated by Gustav Mahler [1860-1911]).

Description: Ah, yes - the old wheeze that Schumann didn’t know how to orchestrate. If not entirely Mahler’s doing, the accusation lived on through the 20th century. You have to know these symphonies really well since most of what Mahler did was in the light of instrumental innovations and the increase in size of the symphony orchestra towards the beginning of the 20th century. These are the third recordings of these Mahler “assisted” works so isn’t it time someone started going over the “Beethoven/Mahler” symphonies (Preiser issued a 2006 live recording of the Ninth)? ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra; Marin Alsop.