András Schiff takes to the podium in this pair of Schubert symphonies presented as part of the Decca Concerts series. Schiff acquits himself well as a conductor–his Schubert sounds with an ease and natural flow, especially in Symphony No. 5. Tempos are pretty much standard, though Schiff does bring out much of the score’s inner detail–particularly the wind parts, here beautifully played by the Philharmonia musicians.
In Schubert’s post-Mozartean Symphony No. 2 Schiff places his emphasis on dynamic contrast and forward momentum, which highlight the music’s drama, particularly in the outer movements. It’s all very nice, but not all that compelling, or even memorable–for that you’ll need to listen to Muti or Harnoncourt, who offer performances of greater color and imagination. There’s more interpretive distinction in the A major sonata, where Schiff’s rather stoic reading benefits from his probing pianism.
The orchestral recordings are a bit bright, with a good deal of reverberation, while the piano session is more closely miked. Overall this release, available for download via iTunes, has value as a novelty item, especially for those curious about Schiff’s conducting.
