The Maestro's Last Symphony, 1851
In 1850, Robert Schumann had been happily married to Clara for ten years. They had six children and Clara worked intensively touring Europe with piano recitals. However, the hallucinations that would lead him to throw himself into the Rhine River four years later had already begun. But in March of that year, he was offered the position of musical director in Düsseldorf. He did not decide immediately. The maestro had some apprehensions, for he had not forgotten his friend Mendelssohn's opinions about the level of musicians in that city. And he did not show great confidence in his own abilities, as well.
A fortunate trip to Cologne, just up the Rhine river from Düsseldorf, in the company of Clara, changed his mind. The magnificent Gothic cathedral thrilled him. Some time later, he would be an astonished witness to an enthusiastic procession accompanying the festivities to dignify the city's new cardinal. There, in Düsseldorf, a fantastic city, he would compose his Third Symphony, called "Rhenish", during November and December 1850.
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| Schumann, in 1850 (1810 - 1856) |
Music director remotion
Actually, Schumann did not do much as a music director in Düsseldorf. The maestro, it seems, was not a good conductor, did not excel on the podium, and soon earned the musicians' resistance. He was removed from his post at the end of that year. But in the field of composition, in addition to the Third Symphony, he could finish the Concerto for cello and orchestra, and a couple of other important works.
Rhineland
The sounds, scenery, and aromas of the lands near the Rhine (the Rhineland) were a great influence on the character and color of the "Rhineland" Symphony. And the title chosen, whether by Schubert or the audiences, or the publishers, reflects the nationalistic sympathies of the time —the Rhine, a potent national symbol, in an imagined Germany made up of a loose confederation of German-speaking duchies.
Likewise, Schubert will write in German the tempo indications of the symphony's five movements.
Symphony in E-flat major, "Rheinische", opus 97
Four symphonies were written by the maestro in his lifetime. The third is the last, for the Fourth Symphony was begun and completed earlier but published much later. It was premiered, with the maestro on the podium, in February 1851. The reception, unfortunately, was not as warm as the two previous symphonies had been. Even so, its melodic, almost folkloric character earned it, subsequently, public appreciation, obeying the unanimous opinion that it is one of Robert Schumann's most brilliant and optimistic symphonic works.
Movements:
00:00 Lebhaft ∙ ( vividly) A powerful theme, syncopated, with fanfare character.
09:10 Scherzo. Sehr mäßig ∙ (very calm) A more rustic character with länder (land) style themes.
15:57 Nicht schnell ∙ (not too fast) Lyrical, sort of intermezzo between scherzo and 4th Mov.
21:14 Feierlich ∙ (solemn) "Accompanying a solemn ceremony" (the opening title).
26:16 Lebhaft - Schneller ∙ (lively - fast) As powerful and happy as the opening movement. Fanfares from the brass and crescendos from the strings lead to a grandiose finale.
The rendition is by the hr-Sinfonieorchester (Frankfurt Radio Symphony), conducted by Marek Janowski.
