Schubert - Symph No 9 & Mendelssohn - Symph No 4 - Tennstedt, BPO

A Great that keeps you on the edge of your seat

The conductor of Schuberts Great must have a strong sense of direction, otherwise, long before the Finale, the music falls flat and listeners feel themselves at a loss on the big Schubertian sea, drifting aimlessly around.
Tennstedt crosses the Schubertian sea like a full blown battleship, cleaving the waves, allways on course. Ingeniously he builds up the tension in the first andante and the scherzo. There is an urgent feel over this Great. 'Intensity' is as always a keyword with Tennstedt.
The more lovely and quite passages provide some relaxation, but the listener feels that drama is around the next corner. Tennstedt presents the symphony as a whole, with inner logic. In some recordings the scherzo may sound as a long spun-out pastorale, (to be honest: a bit boring) whereafter the Finale follows as a non-sequitur. Not so with Tennstedt. This is a version that brings out the majesty and extasy of the score. Tennstedt knows how to electrify his players: the Berliner give it their all.
The Mendelsohn is also very fine and enjoyable, though maybe lacking in that last ounce of lightness and charm.

dBpoweramp 13 Reference, ultrasecure, flat

Enjoy!