Sir John Eliot doesn’t hang around in the Spring Symphony, introduced with a flourish and continued in a flurry, if with no autobahn speed limits flouted, and thanks to a poised and responsive LSO there is plenty of gratifying incident. Indeed Schumann’s music works its greenery and its heart-warming magic, not least in the eloquent slow movement, while the Scherzo (earthy) and its Trios are attractively accommodated and the Finale conjures lambs frolicking. Before we travel to the Rhine in five movements (Symphony 3), there is the compelling drama of the great Byron-inspired Manfred Overture, here theatrically pregnant and whipped up a storm, following which the Symphony has an exuberance and illustration that promotes this wonderful music very persuasively. Excellent recorded sound, period colours closely captured, on LSO Live LSO0844 [SACD], for which applause is rightly excised and the audience is helpfully quiet and non-intrusive.
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