Franz Schubert died at thirty-one in 1828 Vienna, leaving nearly a hundred symphonies charting the evolution from Classical elegance toward Romantic richness. This Deutsche Grammophon box collects his first eight symphonies alongside the Rosamunde incidental music and Grand Duo, performed by Claudio Abbado and the Chamber Orchestra of Europe. Abbado's readings are characteristically lean and transparent, letting Schubert's orchestration breathe without sacrificing warmth. These early symphonies move from juvenilia toward something more profound—the Fourth's minor-key darkness already hints at the yearning that defines his mature work. The playing is refined and energetic, capturing both Classical elegance and Romantic aspiration. A comprehensive, beautifully recorded introduction to Schubert's symphonic foundations.