Sound-wise, Haitink's Schumann is all spring blossoms and rich oils; a luminous, warm-centred production greatly aided by a generous acoustic and judicious balancing. Best, I think, are the First and Fourth Symphonies and the Genoveva Overture, all three benefiting from sympathetic phrasing and an appropriate sense of rustic grandeur. The Second Symphony, although thoughtfully moulded, struck me as rather too sane and even-tempered, albeit with a refreshingly spirited finale. The Rhenish has many fine moments, but the opening Lebhaft is reluctant to ignite and the finale doesn't quite focus the spirit of carefree release that Kubelik and Sawallisch realize in their respective recordings. The Manfred Overture is inwardly melodramatic but outwardly short on impact, yet hardly a bar passes that hasn't been painstakingly considered. In short, I'd say that the overall tone and approach of Haitink's Schumann are absolutely spot-on, but that studio-bound inhibition keeps the middle two symphonies at least from scaling the heights.
Low-price competition in this field has always been strong, but never more so than now. In addition to the Kubelik (BRSO), Karajan and Sawallisch recordings listed above, there are two admirable new 'twofer' reissues to consider: Kubelik's earlier set with the BPO (coupled with the same overtures as here, and due soon on a DG Double release) and Armin Jordan's rugged but hugely perceptive cycle with the Suisse Romande orchestra, on Erato's Bonsai label. The DG Kubelik set is nowhere near as well recorded as Haitink's (and repeats are not played in the finales of the First and Fourth Symphonies), but there is a compensating sense of recreative excitement that lends extra impulse to the faster music and brings greater intensity of expression to the slow movements. Comparing the two performances in the opening bars of the Spring Symphony's Larghetto will prove particularly revealing. This set is a worthy component of the Philips Haitink Symphony Edition but ultimately fails to compete on its own terms.'