Schubert: Symphonies Nos. 8 "Unfinished" & 9 "The Great"

1	Symphony No. 9 in C major
2	Symphony No. 9 in C major
3	Symphony No. 9 in C major
4	Symphony No. 9 in C major
5	Symphony No. 8 in B minor
6	Symphony No. 8 in B minor
Schubert: Symphonies Nos. 8 "Unfinished" & 9 "The Great"
1.	Symphony No. 9 in C major ("The Great"), D. 944
	Composed by Franz Schubert
	Conducted by Charles Mackerras
	Performed by Scottish Chamber Orchestra
2.	Symphony No. 8 in B minor ("Unfinished"), D. 759
	Composed by Franz Schubert
	Conducted by Charles Mackerras
	Performed by Scottish Chamber Orchestra

Barnes & Noble

Musicologists still aren't entirely sure whether Franz Schubert left his Symphony in B Minor unfinished, or if half of it simply disappeared. The symphony's enduring popularity may be due at least in part to the romantic appeal of this unsolved mystery. But some of the credit surely belongs to the music itself, which is among Schubert's most haunting. The spooky atmosphere is palpable right from the opening, with the deep chanting of the double basses and the eerie rustle of violins. This work also boasts some of the composer's most memorable melodies -- though, strangely enough, all of the big tunes seem to be whispered. The Symphony No. 9 in C Major is not only complete, it's a behemoth of "heavenly length," as Robert Schumann put it. It's much brighter and more extroverted than the shadowy, enigmatic "Unfinished," though the second movement builds to a terrifying, and emotionally devastating climax. Conductor Charles Mackerras has recorded these symphonies once before, with a period-instrument ensemble. Here, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra uses modern instruments, resulting in a fuller sound, but their playing is still remarkably fresh and vibrant. Andrew Farach-Colton

Penguin Guide to Compact Discs

The results are both intense and refreshing, with the benefits of period performance consistently apparent in the clarity of texture, but with warmer, sweeter string sound.