Topic: Bruckner's Abbey

[Cato]

Last week I had my best 8th Grade Latin II class (there are two not quite on the same level of knowledge and maturity) translate the text of the Os Iusti (Saint Jerome's translation of Psalm 36) and then we heard Bruckner's motet.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/ov-OAmpcRfw" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/ov-OAmpcRfw</a>

The general reaction was one of stunned awe, and one of the boys exclaimed: "Wow!  I actually got chills listening to that!"

Yes, Bruckner can do that!

[André]

The March issue of the Bruckner Journal lists that month’s new/reissued recordings. Among those is Mehta’s LAPO performance of the 8th symphony on Decca. I intend to buy it. Hopefully it will be available at a reasonable price.

[Mirror Image]

The March issue of the Bruckner Journal lists that month’s new/reissued recordings. Among those is Mehta’s LAPO performance of the 8th symphony on Decca. I intend to buy it. Hopefully it will be available at a reasonable price.

Could this be the reissue you’re referring to?

This is a Japanese reissue.

[GioCar]

The March issue of the Bruckner Journal lists that month’s new/reissued recordings. Among those is Mehta’s LAPO performance of the 8th symphony on Decca. I intend to buy it. Hopefully it will be available at a reasonable price.

That reminds me that next May I'll have in my La Scala subscription Mehta with the same piece.
http://www.teatroallascala.org/en/season/2018-2019/concert/symphony-concert/zubin-mehta-filarmonica-scala.html

[André]

Could this be the reissue you’re referring to?

This is a Japanese reissue.

That's the one. It came out some 3-4 months ago. I tried twice to get it, the merchant canceled twice. Maybe a larger distribution base will help.

[Cato]

In Holland, a Bruckner Festival offering the Originalfassungen of Symphonies III, IV, and VIII.

By a certain Frank Teunissen, Bruckner advocate:

After having talked to 17 conductors, 6 Festivals, 7 concert venues, 12 orchestras and countless influencers, it WILL happen: The Bruckner Festival, 'Ongehoord Bruckner'.*
For the first time in Dutch concert history, in one weekend, 3 Orchestras will perform Bruckner's First Versions of Symphonies nr. 3, 4 and 8. Where? The Muziekgebouw Aan ‘t IJ Amsterdam. When? 8-10 November 2019.
Why would you come? These First Versions are SO recognizably different, rougher and more romantic than the always played later versions; you will be surprised how avant-garde Bruckner is. Come and Listen!

* Unheard

[PerfectWagnerite]

That's the one. It came out some 3-4 months ago. I tried twice to get it, the merchant canceled twice. Maybe a larger distribution base will help.

IT is also in this box:



which might be easier to find than the Japanese release. The box is available free if you Amazon Music.

[JBS]

That's the one. It came out some 3-4 months ago. I tried twice to get it, the merchant canceled twice. Maybe a larger distribution base will help.

?!
The usual Amazon dealers are offering that CD at a normal price...
https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B07J33Q51M/ref=tmm_acd_new_olp_sr?ie=UTF8&condition=new&qid=1552963078&sr=8-1

[Daverz]

?!
The usual Amazon dealers are offering that CD at a normal price...
https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B07J33Q51M/ref=tmm_acd_new_olp_sr?ie=UTF8&condition=new&qid=1552963078&sr=8-1

May be a bit of a crapshoot.  I'd be a bit afraid of getting the wrong CD (e.g. the Israel Philharmonic recording) from some of these vendors.

[SurprisedByBeauty]

Excellent, Jens Laurson!!!

Thanks kindly.

...
That's "universally adored Mega-famous critic Jens Laurson", to you, sir! 

Yes, Master!!!      

Sort-of related: Recently I got an e-mail back from a publisher that had been passed around internally -- and the e-mails among the staff were not deleted. And one chap forwarded my request to a colleague with this explanation: "I received the following request from Mr. Laurson a (relatively well-known) music critic..." "Relatively well-known music critic" has subsequently become my wife's nickname for me, when she is in a good mood. :-) To be certain, it's the most I ever aspired to. Just the right mix of sting and honey.
 

[aukhawk]

I'm not much of a Brucknerian but I've just dipped a toe into the new Gergiev/Munich cycle by listening to No.2 and greatly enjoyed it.



I wouldn't instinctively trust Gergiev in this music but here he does exactly what I want most in Bruckner - he just sets a tempo then rolls with it, minimum interference, end result to my ears quite classical in effect.  It's a fine (live) recording at St Florian and the reverberation is HUGE - just sample the start of the Scherzo.

[Cato]

In a story about a new assistant conductor for the Dallas Symphony:

...Born in 1995, (Katharina) Wincor initially studied piano and oboe in the Senior High School of Music in Linz, Austria. Also in Linz, she studied composition at the Anton Bruckner Private University.

Since 2014, she has studied orchestral conducting in Vienna at the University of Music and Performing Arts, and she was invited as an exchange student for one year at the Franz Liszt Weimar School of Music in Germany. She is continuing conducting studies at the Zurich University of the Arts in Switzerland.

See:

https://www.dallasnews.com/arts/classical-music/2019/04/23/dallas-symphony-names-austrian-katharina-wincor-assistant-conductor

I never knew that such an institution existed, although it makes sense that it is located in Linz!

https://www.bruckneruni.at/en/home/

And I came across this:



https://www3.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/names/2018/04/20/for-andris-nelsons-bruckner-bust/NVXEwrkBg2EePN2VJpfdqJ/story.html?arc404=true

[André]

Georg Tintner’s view on the Symphonic Prelude (from John Berky’s website)


https://www.abruckner.com/editorsnote/news/georg-tintner--the-symphonic-prelude/fullimage.htm?image=Tintner-letter.jpg

[Cato]

Georg Tintner’s view on the Symphonic Prelude (from John Berky’s website)


https://www.abruckner.com/editorsnote/news/georg-tintner--the-symphonic-prelude/fullimage.htm?image=Tintner-letter.jpg

Interesting theory!  Who knows how much was lost in World War II's destruction, or in the chaos one reads about following Bruckner's death, with people snatching "mementos" e.g. the pages for the Ninth's Fourth Movement ?

On a different note...

This popped up recently:

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/1YVdTI21rZQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/1YVdTI21rZQ</a>

I knew a German woman who was one of the biggest members of his fan club, a near "Celi Groupie"  (Celipie ? ).  She gushed, gooeyed, and oozed with ecstatic praise for him!

It made me skeptical of the man for a while!   

[SurprisedByBeauty]

I'm not much of a Brucknerian but I've just dipped a toe into the new Gergiev/Munich cycle by listening to No.2 and greatly enjoyed it.



I wouldn't instinctively trust Gergiev in this music but here he does exactly what I want most in Bruckner - he just sets a tempo then rolls with it, minimum interference, end result to my ears quite classical in effect.  It's a fine (live) recording at St Florian and the reverberation is HUGE - just sample the start of the Scherzo.

It's getting better, that much is for sure: Here's my review of No.1, just uploaded:


Dip Your Ears, No. 234 (Gergiev's Early Bruckner Maturing)

The conclusion isn't too dissimilar.

[Cato]

For those who know German...

I have not watched the entire movie, but someone has placed a documentary from 1971 by Austrian Television of Rafael Kubelik preparing the Vienna Philharmonic for Bruckner's Symphony #4.

The first 70 minutes is an interview with the rehearsal, then follows the actual performance:

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/1wcOnftZo7I&amp;t=4485s" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/1wcOnftZo7I&amp;t=4485s</a>

[André]

That’s great, Leo. Thanks for that most interesting film. Kubelik was one of the best brucknerians around.

[vandermolen]

On the subject of Kubelik what's the verdict on these two recordings please?
From 1963 (Orfeo) and 1966.

[Roasted Swan]

https://www3.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/names/2018/04/20/for-andris-nelsons-bruckner-bust/NVXEwrkBg2EePN2VJpfdqJ/story.html?arc404=true

a toe-curling deeply naff image.  Hopefully one Nelsons will live to regret

[Cato]

a toe-curling deeply naff image.  Hopefully one Nelsons will live to regret

Another image to contemplate:



A Bruckner Bobblehead!  Well, why not?