Album: Schumann, Symphonies / Wiener Symphoniker (Orfeo)

Recently appointed principal guest conductor at New York's Metropolitan Opera, Fabio Luisi proves as adept at Schumann as he is with Strauss in this live cycle with the Wiener Symphoniker.

The tempi are sometimes daring – a langourous Larghetto in the Frühlingssymphonie, a slightly frantic Lebhaft in the Rheinische – but convincingly argued. Though Vienna's fruity clarinets dominate the sound, the articulation is excellent. Luisi's use of rubato is attractive, and the Konzertstück for four horns completes a strong boxed set.