Nikolaus Harnoncourt conducts Schubert Symphonies, Masses, “Alfonso und Estrella”

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Nikolaus Harnoncourt once said, “Schubert is the composer who is closest to my heart” – and in this edition, Harnoncourt and the Berliner Philharmoniker present a brilliant and multifaceted portrait of the composer. It of course includes Schubert’s symphonies – from the too little-known early works to the “Unfinished” and the “Great” C major Symphony. With Schubert’s final two masses, central works of Romantic sacred music are also represented, plus there is a first-class discovery with the opera Alfonso und Estrella.

Harnoncourt’s case for Alfonso und Estrella is so convincing not least because of the superb cast of singers which includes Kurt Streit, Dorothea Röschmann and Christian Gerhaher. But what lies at the musical centre of this edition is the collaboration of orchestra and conductor. This Schubert is colourful and dramatic – and represents a unique synthesis in which the famous sound of the Berliner Philharmoniker is as evident as Nikolaus Harnoncourt’s familiarity with the transparency and sound speech of historical performance practice.

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The performances, recorded between 2003 and 2006, are contained on eight CDs, plus there is a Blu-ray disc that presents all of the recordings in uncompressed 24-bit audio. For vinyl aficionados the 8 symphonies are available as a limited collector’s edition on 8 LP’s with a 44-page hardcover booklet. Moreover, the symphonies are released on CD. The box set includes five hybrid SACDs which can be played on any CD or SACD player.

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Content

Franz Schubert

Symphony No. 1 in D major, D 82

Symphony No. 2 in B flat major, D 125

Symphony No. 3 in D major, D 200

Symphony No. 4 in C minor, D 417 “Tragic”

Symphony No. 5 in B flat major, D 485

Symphony No. 6 in C major, D 589

Symphony No. 7 in B minor, D 759 “Unfinished”

Symphony No. 8 in C major, D 944 “Great”

Mass No. 5 in A flat major, D 678

Mass No. 6 in E flat major, D 950

Alfonso und Estrella D 732, Romantic opera in three acts

Berliner Philharmoniker

Nikolaus Harnoncourt Conductor

Mass No. 5 Iin a flat major, D 678

Luba Orgonášová Soprano

Birgit Remmert Contralto

Kurt Streit Tenor

Christian Gerhaher Bass

Rundfunkchor Berlin

Mass No. 6 in E flat major, D 950

Dorothea Röschmann Soprano

Bernarda Fink Contralto

Jonas Kaufmann Tenor

Christian Elsner Tenor

Christian Gerhaher Bass

Rundfunkchor Berlin

Alfonso und Estrella D 732

Dorothea Röschmann (Estrella)

Kurt Streit (Alfonso)

Christian Gerhaher (Froila)

Jochen Schmeckenbecher (Mauregato)

Hanno Müller-Brachmann (Adolfo)

Rundfunkchor Berlin

Bonus video
Nikolaus Harnoncourt in conversation

Please note that the CD / SACD and vinyl version contain the eight symphonies only.

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Available versions

CD (Hybrid-SACD)

Nikolaus Harnoncourt conducts Schubert

5 CD (Hybrid-SACD)

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Playable on any CD/SACD player

CD / SACD 1–5
Symphonies Nos. 1–8
Running time: : 273 mins

Audio format
CD Stereo
SACD Stereo
(higher resolution, requires SACD player
SACD Surround
(requires SACD player and surround system)

Booklet
64 pages

Packaging
Hardcover Box Set

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US$ 39.00
Excl. shipping
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Nikolaus Harnoncourt conducts Schubert

24-bit Download

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Symphonies Nos. 1–8
Running time: 273 mins

Masses Nos. 5 & 6
Running time: 102 mins

Alfonso und Estrella

Provided Formats
Stereo 24/48 [FLAC / WAV]
5.0 Surround 24/48 [FLAC / WAV]

Digital Booklet
 104 pages / German, Englisch
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US$ 39.00
Excl. shipping

Video trailer

Photos

CD/Blu-ray edition

Vinyl edition

SACD edition