Topic: Bruckner's Abbey

[Cato]

For the 5th, I am quite partial to Jochum (either Staatskapelle Dresden or Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks).

There is also the famous Concertgebouw performance from the 1980's: one of Saint     Eugen Jochum's      last concerts.



<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/eFFnjWW8jwo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/eFFnjWW8jwo</a>

[k a rl h e nn i ng]

Anton Bruckner
Symphony 5
Georg Tintner
RSNO

First run at a couple of days of #5. Any loved recs of relatively modern recordings appreciated. I make no apology for my advocacy of Tintner, and I also want to continue to hear Chailly and Inbal, but keen to hear your thoughts.

I dig (among others) Haitink with the Bavarian Radio Symphony

[foxandpeng]

I dig (among others) Haitink with the Bavarian Radio Symphony

Thanks, Karl. This will probably be this evening's final run at #5 before I move on to #6. I'll listen with interest (once I've heard the new DSCH SQ release from Novus Qt)!

[André]

Thanks, Karl. This will probably be this evening's final run at #5 before I move on to #6. I'll listen with interest (once I've heard the new DSCH SQ release from Novus Qt)!

It’s one of the truly great performances of the 5th.

[ultralinear]

Over on BBC Radio 3 Tom Service spends quite an interesting half-hour debunking some of the more pernicious (and persistent) myths surrounding Bruckner's music.

Not sure how accessible this is to users outside the UK, but I think it should be possible - it might be necessary to set up a (free) account perhaps.

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

Any loved recs of relatively modern recordings appreciated.

Somewhat to my surprise, I really like the Ormandy version, which I have on an old Columbia LP issue. Rather swift and dramatic performance (not a stereotypical Brucknerian "cathedral in sound").

[Linz]

The Ormandy recording of the 5th turned me right off the fifth for quite a while

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

The Ormandy recording of the 5th turned me right off the fifth for quite a while

Why?

For what it's worth, Solti/CSO was my intro to the 5th. As you might expect, it should be renamed Concerto for Brass Band & Orchestra, but it didn't put me off the piece itself.

Over on BBC Radio 3 Tom Service spends quite an interesting half-hour debunking some of the more pernicious (and persistent) myths surrounding Bruckner's music.

Thanks for posting that - very enjoyable.

[André]

Ormandy’s Bruckner is not intrinsically bad, but the constant legato, rather quick tempi and reluctance to observe real pauses make the music sound…oily. The fifth is probably Bruckner’s most ‘blocky’ structure. Its execution should emphasize big dynamic contrasts, raspy winds/brass tones and respect the silences between paragraphs. In that respect the exact opposite of Ormandy’s 5th is the Klemperer version(s).

[Cato]

Ormandy’s Bruckner is not intrinsically bad, but the constant legato, rather quick tempi and reluctance to observe real pauses make the music sound…oily. The fifth is probably Bruckner’s most ‘blocky’ structure. Its execution should emphasize big dynamic contrasts, raspy winds/brass tones and respect the silences between paragraphs. In that respect the exact opposite of Ormandy’s 5th is the Klemperer version(s).

The Ormandy recording of the 5th turned me right off the fifth for quite a while

Thanks for the reviews!  I will see if I can find it.  Ormandy usually did so well with things like the Mahler Second Symphony and Rachmaninov.

Over on BBC Radio 3 Tom Service spends quite an interesting half-hour debunking some of the more pernicious (and persistent) myths surrounding Bruckner's music.

Not sure how accessible this is to users outside the UK, but I think it should be possible - it might be necessary to set up a (free) account perhaps.

Many thanks for the link!

And allow me to offer this as Lenten Music:

<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>

[André]

Thanks for the reviews!  I will see if I can find it.  Ormandy usually did so well with things like the Mahler Second Symphony and Rachmaninov.

Many thanks for the link!

And allow me to offer this as Lenten Music:

<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>

Ormandy was a great conductor, one of the giants of the podium. Nobody’s perfect. 

[Leo K.]

I dig (among others) Haitink with the Bavarian Radio Symphony

Me too this is an amazing sounding performance. Aces!

[LKB]

I dig (among others) Haitink with the Bavarian Radio Symphony

I'm unfamiliar with that one, but Haitink is one of my main Bruckner interpreters. I'll check it out when l get home. 

[André]

It’s an excellent version, more volatile than his earlier recording from Amsterdam, if without the latter orchestra’s tightness of ensemble and richly burnished brass sound.

[LKB]

How does it compare with his digital Philips recording with the VPO?

[André]

It’s an excellent version, more volatile than his earlier recording from Amsterdam, if without the latter orchestra’s tightness of ensemble and richly burnished brass sound.

Edit: sorry for the confusion, I thought Karl’s post referred to the 1st symphony, which Haitink also recorded with the BRSO 

[André]

How does it compare with his digital Philips recording with the VPO?

Assuming you refer to the 5th symphony, the answer is: go for the BRSO version. The VP recording on Philips is very good, but too plush for my taste. The BR orchestra and the engineers produce a fantastic sonic picture and Haitink has unlocked the gates of Walhalla. The finale (and particularly the coda) is jaw-dropping.

[LKB]

Assuming you refer to the 5th symphony, the answer is: go for the BRSO version. The VP recording on Philips is very good, but too plush for my taste. The BR orchestra and the engineers produce a fantastic sonic picture and Haitink has unlocked the gates of Walhalla. The finale (and particularly the coda) is jaw-dropping.

Just got home, I'll check it out, thx Andre.

[Cato]

From Capriccio Records:

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/rq9GFasC334" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/rq9GFasC334</a>

[Cato]

This recording of Bruckner's Sixth Symphony came back to my attention today: those TELARC recordings - even without works by Bruckner  -  from the good ol' days were usually excellent!