Bruckner's Abbey

[jlaurson]

Classical CD Of The Week: Bruckner Rising & Wagner Rarity

http://www.forbes.com/sites/jenslaurson/2016/08/24/classical-cd-of-the-week-bruckner-rising-wagner-rarity/#178363f9c55f


If I can coax someone into leaving a comment on any of the Forbes CD of the Week reviews, I've got a voucher for the Berlin Phil's Digital Concert Hall (alas valid for only 7 days from the first concert watched) to go their way.

[bhodges]

Just found out this concert tomorrow will be live-streamed from Het Concertgebouw:

20.00
European Union Youth Orchestra
Bernard Haitink, conductor

Bruckner: Symphony No. 7

https://www.concertgebouw.nl/live-streams#

--Bruce

[jlaurson]

Just found out this concert tomorrow will be live-streamed from Het Concertgebouw:

20.00
European Union Youth Orchestra
Bernard Haitink, conductor

Bruckner: Symphony No. 7

https://www.concertgebouw.nl/live-streams#

--Bruce

The same, but from Grafenegg (just heard the concert last night), will also be on ORF this week or next. (Though it wasn't so memorable as to be worth tuning in, methinks. Still, a kick-ass orchestra.)

[André]

I'm not a fan of Jochum's Bruckner in his "middle period" (1955-1975/80). I find his conducting often unfocused, disconcerting, sometimes even confused. In his last years however he seems to have found a couple of keys that unlocked the doors to a whole array of new ways to connect the musical paragraphs. Suddenly, everything is brought into intense focus, bringing a solidity to the sound, a cogency to the musical argument that simply was not there previously. Tempi are often slightly more settled, the sound is much weightier, as are the climaxes that are simply crushing.

This Weitblick recording is from July 1983 and emphatically shows the change that was taking place at that time. The orchestra is the Munich Philharmonic, a smoother, denser outfit than the other Munich orchestra (the BRSO). It is recorded in the Herkulessaal, the BRSO's magnificent concert hall (the MPO's change of venue to the Philharmonie am Gasteig was yet to take place).

Suffice to say that this is one of the very best recordings of the work ever, infinitely superior to Jochum's Berlin or Dresden commercial performances.

There is another fantastic Jochum 9th, hailing from his very last concert in January 1987. It also features the MPO (this time in the Philharmonie concert hall). I'm listening to it next.

BTW the test of a dead or old conductor's real identification with a composer is the works he will perform in his last years. In the case of Bruckner, it seems to be the 5th, 7th, 8th and 9th (vide Jochum, Haitink, Wand). As if, in their last years (what else have you got when yous pass the 80 mark?) they want to concentrate on the works they feel they can still add yet another important comma or exclamation mark on a work that will forever remain unattainable in its reach and might.

[Cato]

I'm not a fan of Jochum's Bruckner in his "middle period" (1955-1975/80). I find his conducting often unfocused, disconcerting, sometimes even confused. In his last years however he seems to have found a couple of keys that unlocked the doors to a whole array of new ways to connect the musical paragraphs. Suddenly, everything is brought into intense focus, bringing a solidity to the sound, a cogency to the musical argument that simply was not there previously. Tempi are often slightly more settled, the sound is much weightier, as are the climaxes that are simply crushing.

Many thanks for this review, Andre'!

Some would say that the only way to perform Bruckner is with "crushing climaxes"!!!   0:)

[MishaK]

A few wonderful recent youtube finds of clips of four great Brucknerians for the Brucknerites here:

Skrowaczewski

Skrowaczewski Bruckner 9 with Frankfurt RSO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Az-kHLRQhsk

Interview with Stan about conducting Bruckner: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E69j9KaOEEM

Another interview about one of his works and B9 (in German): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsbRPZqcKuU

Skrowaczewski Bruckner 4 with Galicia SO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_BXBiHtIGM

Skrowaczewski Breckner 8 with his Saarbrücken RSO live in Tokyo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjeL9hKOhcE&t=2091s


Kubelik

Kubelik/VPO Bruckner 4 rehearsal footage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7D9HMuRMj0&t=80s

Interview with Kubelik about B4 (in German - with Japanese subtitles): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAAO_tFIxzw

Complete performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4eITP7BMyg&t=16s


Asahina

Asahina Chicago SO Bruckner 5: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwj_57e8T2s&t=79s

Asahina New Japan PO Bruckner 8: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=js5pBqpNvZA

Asahina New Japan PO Bruckner 7: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmgMxDLC9qo

Asahina New Japan PO Bruckner 5: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xo9oKghi5oY

Asahina New Japan PO Bruckner 4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iI_ZUa-0p4U


Wand

Wand BPO Bruckner 9: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asFTFaeoVaw

Wand NDR SO Bruckner 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqI6OuIOGbM

Wand NDR SO Bruckner 8 (in four individual clips):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtG3ct-iol0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oxe5SoYgFbs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M49u848iy_w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pzTLk-thrQ

Interview with Wand about Bruckner (in German): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAMjkLKKa7M



Cheers

Misha (who heard Skrowaczewski conduct an absolutely phenomenal Bruckner 8 in Minneapolis two weeks ago and is still glowing from the experience)

[MishaK]

The orchestra is the Munich Philharmonic, a smoother, denser outfit than the other Munich orchestra (the BRSO). It is recorded in the Herkulessaal, the BRSO's magnificent concert hall (the MPO's change of venue to the Philharmonie am Gasteig was yet to take place).

I don't know this recording, so what I say comes with that caveat, but I find that an odd statement. The BRSO has consistently been the technically superior Munich orchestra (especially before and after Celi's tenure with the MPO when the MPO's level was arguably at its highest thanks to the massive amount of rehearsal time Celi demanded, though still not BRSO caliber). I wonder whether what you're experiencing has more to do with the recording itself and/or the conductor's different approach rather than the orchestra. If you check out any of Kubelik's Bruckner recordings from the early 80s with the BRSO (the studio recordings of 3 & 4 on Sony, the live 3 on audite, the live 8 on BR's own label and the live 9 on Orfeo) you will hear that the BRSO is no less capable of a dense, warm, blended Brucknerian sound, crushing climaxes and breathtaking codas. That just doesn't seem to be what Jochum wanted in in his DG recordings or what DG's engineers captured (or were capable of capturing) at the time.

[André]

I don't see the point of your post if you didn't hear that recording. Or Jochum's previous (1983) 9th with the Munich Philharmonic, which is more widely available. Especially since these 2 performances  were made with Celibidache's orchestra (he was MD 1979-1996), "when the MPO's level was arguably at its highest".

I do own and value highly all the BRSO recordings you mention. I'm not saying one is technically better than the other. I wrote that they sound different.

[MishaK]

I'm surprised by the statement that the MPO is a "denser, smoother outfit" than the BRSO. I've heard tons of recordings of both and have heard the BRSO live, hence that seems like a conclusion drawn from an overly small sample (i.e. the two recordings you mention). I don't need to have heard that MPO Jochum recording to know that your statement disagrees with my experience. That's all.  (There's also the history of the ensembles, with the BRSO having been created by Jochum from hand picked top musicians from all over Germany. The MPO never quite had that caliber.)

[MishaK]

I recall our old friend M forever wondered what the Orchestre de Paris might have sounded like back in the 80s when they performed Bruckner for the first time under Barenboim, having had next to no prior experience in that repertoire. Here's the answer (though admittedly in mediocre sound quality):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utKiXkKf4Fg

[aukhawk]

I've had the Venzago coupling of the 4th and 7th for some time, and that recording of the 7th is certainly my favourite.
[asin]B004YXL5XU[/asin]
So I've recently added his recordings of the 2nd and the 8th to my collection, and having listened once to the 8th I think this will become a favourite too.  I generally find most Bruckner recordings a bit shouty and blarey, and Venzago's approach is a very good antidote to that.

[Brian]

Conductor Gerd Schaller has completed, premiered, and recorded (live) his own completion of the Ninth Symphony's finale.

[PerfectWagnerite]

Any thoughts on this set?



Is it me or every other week there is a new Bruckner cycle...

[Mirror Image]

Any thoughts on this set?



Is it me or every other week there is a new Bruckner cycle...

She's a good Brucknerian, but against some stiff competition and really no match for my favorite cycle: HvK/Berliners.

[Mahlerian]

Any thoughts on this set?



Is it me or every other week there is a new Bruckner cycle...

She uses the first versions of the works exclusively for her cycle, so take that as you will.  In the more familiar works she and her orchestra may not have the sheen of Karajan or the power of other more famous Brucknerians, but I have been generally satisfied with what I've heard.  She also has done the only recording of the F minor "Study" Symphony that I've found even remotely interesting or successful.

[PerfectWagnerite]

Thanks guys. I have never been a big fan of HVK in these works, more of a Jochum guy myself. The price IS cheap in the Young set but like our friend Orfeo I am trying to be a bit more selective in terms of what I buy.

[TheGSMoeller]

I've had the Venzago coupling of the 4th and 7th for some time, and that recording of the 7th is certainly my favourite.
[asin]B004YXL5XU[/asin]
So I've recently added his recordings of the 2nd and the 8th to my collection, and having listened once to the 8th I think this will become a favourite too.  I generally find most Bruckner recordings a bit shouty and blarey, and Venzago's approach is a very good antidote to that.

Venzago is a mixed bag of (mostly) goodies, I've appreciated all of the recordings, even though the 5th from the cycle takes an extremely open mind. I agree with your above assessment of Venzago's 7th, aukhawk, I've also considered it a favorite, his handling of the finale is unique but beautifully conveyed.

Any thoughts on this set?



Is it me or every other week there is a new Bruckner cycle...

This is a solid set, PerfectWagnerite. I've only listened to it on Spotify, although I did purchase the solo disc of the 2nd from it, had to own a hard copy for my collection. I'm a big enthusiast of Bruckner's original versions and the 2nd's is superior to the revised in my opinion. It gets titled "Symphony of Pauses", and Young really stresses those "pauses". Gorgeous performance.

There are many great cycles of Bruckner out there for sure. And I still stand by my belief that no other composer's works benefits from multiple recordings and interpretations than the music of Bruckner does.

Thanks guys. I have never been a big fan of HVK in these works, more of a Jochum guy myself. The price IS cheap in the Young set but like our friend Orfeo I am trying to be a bit more selective in terms of what I buy.

Agreed, I have never placed HvK high on my list of top Bruckner interpreters, in fact I've never placed HvK high on any list (don't punish me, GMG'rs). 

[PerfectWagnerite]

Thanks guys for all your inputs. I ordered it, if nothing else fresh editions versions of these works.

[Cato]

I just came across this: Ashkenazy's orchestration of the Adagio from the String Quintet:

https://www.youtube.com/v/XwyBZiUxFMw&feature=youtu.be

[MishaK]

I just came across this: Ashkenazy's orchestration of the Adagio from the String Quintet:

There's also one by Skrowaczewski.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gm3WFLT7V8c

Not sure how much difference there is, since in each case it's just for string orchestra which is basically an augmented string quintet.