SCHUMANN Genoveva Overture, Symphony No. 2 / SCHUBERT Symphony No. 5

SCHUMANN

Overture to ‘Genoveva’ op. 81

Sanders Theatre, Harvard University, 18 April 1961

Symphony No. 2 in C major, op. 61

Sanders Theatre, Harvard University, 7 April 1959

SCHUBERT

Symphony No. 5 in B flat major, D485

Sanders Theatre, Harvard University, 27 February 1962

Boston Symphony Orchestra / Charles Munch

Access to the publicly broadcast BSO

concerts from this era has been

extremely difficult even for

researchers. This series of DVDs will

make these performances available

for the first time since they were

broadcast.

Munch launched the BSO into television in 1955. He was an immensely popular conductor and well suited to being filmed.

This material represents some of the earliest televised concerts with the Boston Symphony and Charles Munch, and has been restored using the greatest care and state-of-the-art techniques. It is of exceptional musical interest and rare historic value.

Munch demonstrates a clear enjoyment of the works and combines discipline with freedom, guiding the orchestra to a thrilling performance. Genoveva is dramatic, whilst he gives a ‘sunny’ rendition of Schubert’s Fifth Symphony. David Hurwitz wrote on classicstoday.com regarding a Schubert recording with Charles Munch and the BSO: “It is unbelievably exciting, with the orchestra playing as if its collective life depended on it”.

Munch had a great affection for and appreciation of Schumann’s Second Symphony, programming it in four different Boston Symphony Orchestra seasons, taking it on tour on each occasion. Munch never recorded Schumann's Symphony No.2 or Schubert's 5th Symphony, so these recordings are completely new to his discography. This DVD also represents the first release of the works by the BSO.

Sound format: LPCM Mono

Picture format: 4:3

Running time: 75’

Subtitles: n/a

Menu languages: English

Booklet languages: E/F/G

Region code: 0

Territory Restrictions: None

ICAD Classics DVD ICAD5052