*** This title is a reissue of a Japanese release with liner notes in Japanese. ***
This is terrific Schumann, the Fourth Symphony especially, which remains one of the most thrilling performances ever. James Levine whips up a huge amount of excitement in the work's outer movements, never once letting the energy flag. In the equally fine Second Symphony a touch more presence from woodwinds and timpani would have capped the otherwise glorious finale even more splendidly, but otherwise there's absolutely nothing to quibble about--particularly when the Adagio is one of the most cogently paced and eloquently sung on disc. The Philadelphians play gorgeously, especially the strings, which in the late 1970s still retained their famous Ormandy sound, only here wedded to razor sharp rhythms and really tight ensemble playing.
-- David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday.com from review of earlier reissue, RCA 55305
