Next season he will lead a complete cycle of Schumann symphonies and concertos.

Into this category of loving admiration fall the reorchestrations of the Schumann symphonies by Gustav Mahler.

"I don't think the Schumann symphonies represent his intimate diary," Mr. Barenboim said.

The orchestra has also recorded the Schumann symphonies under Mr. Barenboim's direction.

The Schumann symphony also failed to move - still less to spring and bounce - besides being blurred in texture the whole time.

The Schumann symphony fared just as well under Mr. Ozawa's guidance.

"How you play it now is quite fine," he said in the Schumann symphony, "but if we do the diminuendo, it will be perfect."

"It was like discovering a Schumann symphony which had never been played," Mrs. Doolan said.

His recordings of the four Schumann symphonies contain changes to the composer's orchestration (slight changes, admittedly, and fewer than most other prominent conductors have made).

The clearest indicator of Mr. Morlot's personal vision as a musician came in the Schumann symphony.