Schumann's Spring Symphony had its premiere in Leipzig under the leadership of Mendelssohn, and it was warmly welcomed by the musical cognoscenti, who gave it the nickname of “Spring” and its literary association with an Adolf Böttger poem (Frühlingsgedicht, “Spring Poem”). Schumann had indeed originally included subtitles for each of its movements, but removed them before publication, though he would go on to speak of its spring-like spirit and of the music coming alive.

In the early part of the Romantic period, the orchestra was still undergoing various stages of post-Beethovenian expansion, and Schumann’s contribution was to demand a much larger set of timpani retunings, involving a third drum — the first major orchestral work to require more than two. An opening fanfare demonstrates an extended brass section too, with four horns and three trombones, though this moves quickly into an upbeat Allegro molto vivace that is lively and forward-looking. (Thomas Ang)

Singapore Symphony Orchestra
Ludovic Morlot, conductor

Recorded live on 25 Nov 2022 at the Victoria Concert Hall, Singapore

Watch the complete performance a our YouTube channel member:
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