Christian Thielemann: Schumann Symphonies

German star conductor Christian Thielemann and the Staatskapelle Dresden present a brand new recording of all four symphonies of Robert Schumann (1810-1856), who lived in Dresden from 1844 to 1850 and wrote his second symphony there. The recording took place in Suntory Hall, Tokyo alongside concerts which received great critical acclaim. Robert Schumann's four symphonies are masterpieces of German romantic symphonies. The first symphony, first performed in Leipzig in 1841, is also known as the "Spring Symphony" (Frühlings-Sinfonie). Schumann is said to have received the first impulse for this composition through a spring poem by a contemporary poet. Schumann started to write his second symphony in Dresden in 1845, where he had moved with his family the year before. During its development, Schumann was repeatedly afflicted with severe depression and auditory hallucinations. In 1846, this symphony was premiered by Schumann's close friend Mendelssohn. The third symphony, also known as "Rhenish" (Rheinische) celebrated its premiere in 1851 in Dusseldorf. Also in the Rhineland , where Schumann lived from 1850 and was the music director of the city, the premiere of the final version of the fourth symphony took place in 1853.