Nikolić reveals a different side to Schubert

The conductor-less Dutch orchestra led by Gordan Nikolić, here reveals Schubert as a more impressive symphonist than his reputation usually allows

Composer: Schubert
Repertoire: Symphonies Nos 4 & 5
Artists: Netherlands CO/Gordan Nikolić (violin)
Rating: 4/5
Genre: Orchestral
Label: PentaTone PTC 5186 340

The Netherlands CO with Nikolić, sometime leader of the LSO, play the 21-year old’s two symphonies from the year 1818, the Fourth especially possessing dramatic vigour, melodic purpose and rhythmic restraint in the insistent ostinati and colourful instrumental tone through the rumbling C minor thunder. In the Fifth, they relax the tension a little and Schubert becomes again the master not so much of instrumental colour and the crowd-like tutti, but of long, loving melodies suitable for in-car humalongs.