The first two volumes in Naxos’ ongoing Tintner Memorial Edition feature fine Mozart and mediocre Schubert, and this third installment offers a bit of both worlds. The Beethoven suffers from rhythmic stiffness (in the first movement particularly) combined with compressed dynamics, rendering the work comparatively lifeless. You have the distinct impression that it not only sounded much better live, but that this recording probably doesn’t do justice to Tintner’s view of the symphony. The spirit certainly was willing, but the flesh, in the form of Symphony Nova Scotia, was just too weak.
On the other hand, Tintner’s Schumann is very good, aside from some scruffy string playing in the usual places (the scherzo). It seems that in the three years between the performances of the Beethoven (1988) and this work (1991) the standard of playing had improved in all departments. The outer movements spring forward athletically and the Adagio is beautifully phrased, as if every musical paragraph really meant something to the conductor. Very good sonics and an appealing spoken introduction by Tintner himself make this performance a worthy testimonial to his art. So, this is recommended to the conductor’s fans, for the Schumann alone, and the rating reflects that performance only.
