Franz Schmidt stands as one of the great Romantic symphonists, an Austrian master whose lush orchestrations bridge the 19th and 20th centuries. This 1989 Chandos recording captures his Second Symphony through the Chicago Symphony Orchestra under Estonian conductor Neeme Järvi, delivering clarity and warmth. The work unfolds with the sweep and grandeur of late-Romantic orchestral music—full strings, expressive brass, intricate counterpoint. Schmidt's symphonies have been increasingly rediscovered in recent decades, and this is an accessible entry point. If you're drawn to Mahler, Brahms, or Strauss but want something less performed, this rewards careful listening.