I am an absolute total Schubert fan and am so glad you are doing this. Your essays on music and literature are my favorites. Hurrah for this new entry!
The insert of the TIME-LIFE record album of Schubert mentions that it was first conducted by Mendelssohn in 1839 in abridged form - only the first two movements. It goes on:
"An attempt by Mendelssohn to play the symphony in London in 1844 had to be abandoned in rehearsal, because when the orchestra came to the hundreds of repeated triplets that propel the finale forward with irresistible energy, the string players - their arms aching with the effort - hooted with derision and refused to continue playing. An attempt to play the work in Paris also had to be abandoned; and when it eventually reached London in 1856 it was presented in the oddest sort of way: the first three movements were played at one concert and then one week later, the second, third, and fourth movements were given, but without the first."
As an erstwhile orchestral member, the idea of flatly refusing to attempt a difficult passage has never occurred to me.
Thal you for sharing this interesting essay with us
I am an absolute total Schubert fan and am so glad you are doing this. Your essays on music and literature are my favorites. Hurrah for this new entry!
Glad you’re enjoying the Schubert survey! It has been a pleasure to put together.
The insert of the TIME-LIFE record album of Schubert mentions that it was first conducted by Mendelssohn in 1839 in abridged form - only the first two movements. It goes on:
"An attempt by Mendelssohn to play the symphony in London in 1844 had to be abandoned in rehearsal, because when the orchestra came to the hundreds of repeated triplets that propel the finale forward with irresistible energy, the string players - their arms aching with the effort - hooted with derision and refused to continue playing. An attempt to play the work in Paris also had to be abandoned; and when it eventually reached London in 1856 it was presented in the oddest sort of way: the first three movements were played at one concert and then one week later, the second, third, and fourth movements were given, but without the first."
As an erstwhile orchestral member, the idea of flatly refusing to attempt a difficult passage has never occurred to me.
Amazing--I had no idea. Schumann wrote about the symphony's "glorious length," which I'm sure the players did not appreciate.