In one respect at least, Franz Welser-Most sets precisely the right tone for Schumann: his is a proportionately balanced approach with none of the sundry exaggerations that characterize some of his more wilful predecessors (Bernstein for example). But neither does it summon their intensity of vision. In the Rhenish Symphony's noble Feierlich (the 'Cologne Cathedral' movement) for example, Welser-Most's careful structuring merely serves to accentuate the foundations; there is little in the way of grandeur or dramatic perspective. The Scherzo, though, is admirably outgoing and the Nicht schnell third movement, although lacking Kubelik's wistful brand of poetry, has a notable sense of line. Welser-Most does occasionally flatten dynamics, at bar 125 in the Rhenish's first movement (2'15''), for instance, where a prescribed expressive dip to piano is given short shrift and therefore minimizes the effect of the succeeding crescendo. Also, the Symphony's outer movements lack the last degree of forward momentum: Lebhaft does, after all, mean ''lively, sprightly, brisk'' (Grove) and this of all symphonies should open and close in a mood of sunny affirmation.
The Second Symphony has its first movement repeat intact, although an unmarked jolt forwards at 1'32'' rather impedes the introduction's flow and the main Allegro's frequent sforzatos tend to lack impact. The tricky Scherzo has the benefit of accommodating transitions, the glorious Adagio is nicely moulded although those ardent poco a poco crescendos are comparatively constrained. As in the Rhenish, I noted a certain lack of flexibility, something that might be due, at least in part, to the studio's stultifying influence.
All in all, these performances are generally well thought-through but ultimately bow to superior competition. My personal preferences in this coupling are both at less than full price: Sawallisch primarily (mid price), and Kubelik with the BPO (budget price). If state-of-the-art technology is an essential prerequisite, then I'd opt for the LPO under Masur.'