#61 The Smell of Deliberation

Years ago, I skipped slow movements in symphonies. There was not enough thrill in them for me. Today I'm maybe thrilled in different ways. I'm fascinated with the simplicity of expressive means, with orchestration, with inner intensity.

But perhaps the greatest beauty of this C Major symphony is contained in the third movement, in Adagio of such a lyrical intensity that it stands alone among the slow movements of its time, said young Bernstein about the movement. In this 1953 recording, there's no fear of misunderstanding. Pure music.

Composer: Robert Schumann
Work: Symphony No 2, III. Adagio espressivo
Recording: New York Stadium Symphony Orchestra, Leonard Bernstein