Bruckner's Abbey

[Cato]

Those who have entered Bruckner's magical world want even more, want length, and power, and bliss, and eternity.

A big AMEN to that!  😇

[LKB]

I don't want to repeat what I've already said, but anyway. Those who haven't understood Bruckner love to repeat the cliché about his long-windedness. Those who have entered Bruckner's magical world want even more, want length, and power, and bliss, and eternity.

I've been living comfortably in that world since one day in 1977 or '78, when l walked into Tower Records' Classical section just in time for the beginning of Symphony No. 7.

Since then I've played, sung and conducted Bruckner, and memorized Symphonies 4,5,7,8 and 9 ( incomplete version ). So I can claim some understanding of Bruckner, and l would say that 1] the cliché exists for good reason, and 2] ( most importantly ), where he is long-winded it is not a weakness.

[André]

This year's West Coast Brucknerthon playlist:

- Symphony in F-minor: Poschner/Bruckner Orchestra Linz (Capriccio CD, 2022)
- Symphony No. 1 (1877): Young/Hamburg Philharmonic Orchestra (Oehms SACD, 2010)
- Symphony in D-minor: Nelsons/Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra (DG CD, 2020)
- Symphony No. 2 (1872): Eichhorn/Bruckner Orchestra Linz (Camerata CD, 1991)
- Symphony No. 3 (1877): Kubelik/Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra (Audite CD, 1970)
- Symphony No. 4 (1881): Blomstedt/Staatskapelle Dresden (Denon CD, 1981)
- Symphony No. 5: Jochum/Concertgebouw Orchestra (RCO Live CD, 1986)
- Symphony No. 6: Leitner/SWF Symphony Orchestra (Hänssler Classic CD, 1982)
- Symphony No. 7: Ozawa/Saito Kinen Orchestra (Decca CD, 2003)
- Symphony No. 8 (Haas): TO BE ANNOUNCED!!!
- Symphony No. 9: Naito/Tokyo New City Orchestra (Delta CD, 2006)

https://www.abruckner.com/editorsnote/news/west-coast-brucknerthon-announced-august-31st-in-s/

Recordings chosen for symphonies 2-6 have claims for top 3 on any list.

I have been lucky to hear Blomstedt in #2 and Leitner in #9 here in Montreal. I count both as among the best performances of these works I've heard (live or on record).

[LKB]

Recordings chosen for symphonies 2-6 have claims for top 3 on any list.

I have been lucky to hear Blomstedt in #2 and Leitner in #9 here in Montreal. I count both as among the best performances of these works I've heard (live or on record).

Haitink was quite good with the Haas no. 8, his studio digital recording for Philips has been my favorite for some 40 years.

https://youtu.be/Mjy3jX8lbQU?si=fBTcrkzCVhDTg7ry

[Maestro267]

Anniversary week is upon us, with Wednesday being the big day. What are your listening plans, if any?

[brewski]

Since last Saturday was the annual Brucknerthon in San Diego, with the program below, I may try to duplicate some of that this week. Next week, hearing No. 7 live with Nézet-Séguin and Philadelphia.

- Symphony in F-minor: Poschner/Bruckner Orchestra Linz (Capriccio CD, 2022)
- Symphony No. 1 (1877): Young/Hamburg Philharmonic Orchestra (Oehms SACD, 2010)
- Symphony in D-minor: Nelsons/Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra (DG CD, 2020)
- Symphony No. 2 (1872): Eichhorn/Bruckner Orchestra Linz (Camerata CD, 1991)
- Symphony No. 3 (1877): Kubelik/Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra (Audite CD, 1970)
- Symphony No. 4 (1881): Blomstedt/Staatskapelle Dresden (Denon CD, 1981)
- Symphony No. 5: Jochum/Concertgebouw Orchestra (RCO Live CD, 1986)
- Symphony No. 6: Leitner/SWF Symphony Orchestra (Hänssler Classic CD, 1982)
- Symphony No. 7: Ozawa/Saito Kinen Orchestra (Decca CD, 2003)
- Symphony No. 8 (Haas), Leinsdorf/Boston Symphony (1969 aircheck)
- Symphony No. 9: Naito/Tokyo New City Orchestra (Delta CD, 2006)

-Bruce

[foxandpeng]

Anniversary week is upon us, with Wednesday being the big day. What are your listening plans, if any?

I started listening to Bruckner earlier in the year, knowing the dates, but got distracted and didn't pick back up. I'm now in Shostakovich symphonies atm, so may be a month of more poking those, but I would like to go back and spend some meaningful Bruckner time.

I did set up a Poschner playlist last week, so would be interested to know what folk think of those.

There are so many knowledgeable people here, but I would be particularly keen to hear our friend @Linz on favourite recordings and performances...

[André]

Anniversary week is upon us, with Wednesday being the big day. What are your listening plans, if any?

Wednesday I'll be away, so I'll brucknerize when I return. I plan to listen to nos 7 and 8 from DGG's Böhm Big Box (Big Böhm Box ?). His 8th is my all-time favourite. Then I'll crack open the Gielen set I got a few months ago.

[Mapman]

I started my celebration early, by playing along to the RCO in Bruckner's 5th. I intend to play along with the 7th and 8th over the next two days!

[Cato]

Since last Saturday was the annual Brucknerthon in San Diego, with the program below, I may try to duplicate some of that this week. Next week, hearing No. 7 live with Nézet-Séguin and Philadelphia.

- Symphony in F-minor: Poschner/Bruckner Orchestra Linz (Capriccio CD, 2022)
- Symphony No. 1 (1877): Young/Hamburg Philharmonic Orchestra (Oehms SACD, 2010)
- Symphony in D-minor: Nelsons/Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra (DG CD, 2020)
- Symphony No. 2 (1872): Eichhorn/Bruckner Orchestra Linz (Camerata CD, 1991)
- Symphony No. 3 (1877): Kubelik/Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra (Audite CD, 1970)
- Symphony No. 4 (1881): Blomstedt/Staatskapelle Dresden (Denon CD, 1981)
- Symphony No. 5: Jochum/Concertgebouw Orchestra (RCO Live CD, 1986)
- Symphony No. 6: Leitner/SWF Symphony Orchestra (Hänssler Classic CD, 1982)
- Symphony No. 7: Ozawa/Saito Kinen Orchestra (Decca CD, 2003)
- Symphony No. 8 (Haas), Leinsdorf/Boston Symphony (1969 aircheck)
- Symphony No. 9: Naito/Tokyo New City Orchestra (Delta CD, 2006)

-Bruce

Quite a list! 

I will be listening to the Bruckner First Symphony, Jochum and then Karajan, both on DGG!

[calyptorhynchus]

Happy 200th Anton!

Unfortunately I forgot about the anniversary today until it was nearly too late to listen to anything, so I chose the Overture in G minor to listen to. And reminded myself what a fresh and delightful piece that is. 

[Wanderer]

Anniversary week is upon us, with Wednesday being the big day. What are your listening plans, if any?

I don't plan my listening around anniversaries, birthdays and the like (I have a fully booked listening calendar, I'm afraid 😁), but I sure did (and will) listen to Bruckner a lot this year (as I do every year). I've been listening to the Nelsons/Gewandhausorchester versions (interspersed with Wagner) all last month - a number of others, too. And I'm specifically waiting for the last Poschner recordings to be released to do a proper Brucknerthon of all the versions (already did so with the extant releases when his last recording was released). That will be fun. But today, it's Alkan.

[Cato]

The first Bruckner symphony which I heard, when I was in grade school - after seeing the score in the public library - was the Seventh.  Eugen Jochum conducted the performance on the record.

I believe this is not the performance I heard: this performance came later, when I was in high school, but it must be close.

[Mapman]

I started my celebration early, by playing along to the RCO in Bruckner's 5th. I intend to play along with the 7th and 8th over the next two days!

And I played the 7th today!

[André]

Cross-posted from WAYL2today thread

Manfred Honeck's 9th:


Yesterday (B-Day) I didn't have access to my CDs, but the radio played Manfred Honeck's B9 with the Elb-Philharmonie, a concert broadcast from last spring. While I didn't go for every single conducting decision he made (an accelerando in the first climax in I) it was both a moving, powerful and, ultimately, cathartic experience. Makes me want to explore this disc (Honeck's Pittsburgh B9).

[Cato]

On a different Bruckner discussion site, a comment was made about the Finale of the Fourth Symphony: the writer found the movement problematic, especially the Coda, implying that it did not mesh well with the first three ovements, but that a way could be found to wrestle it into the mold, a way which, however, few conductors had found.

One of those, in the writer's opinion, was Sergiu Celibidache:

e.g.

What say ye?  Do you find anything "problematic" about the movement?

Whether you do or not, which perfoamnce(s) do you recommend, especially one with an excellent Finale?

[LKB]

On a different Bruckner discussion site, a comment was made about the Finale of the Fourth Symphony: the writer found the movement problematic, especially the Coda, implying that it did not mesh well with the first three ovements, but that a way could be found to wrestle it into the mold, a way which, however, few conductors had found.

One of those, in the writer's opinion, was Sergiu Celibidache:

e.g.

What say ye?  Do you find anything "problematic" about the movement?

Whether you do or not, which perfoamnce(s) do you recommend, especially one with an excellent Finale?

As far as the final movement not " meshing well " with the prior three, l suspect the writer in question may need to familiarize himself a bit more with those earlier movements, as Bruckner most assuredly uses earlier material in the Finale.

As far as the famous coda is concerned, Celibidache's rendering is a valuable alternative to the usual. The buildup is well-managed, though a tad slow as was his wont, and he closes it out successfully.

In the end, Karl Böhm ( and others ) makes better choices overall imho, and he has the unquestionable advantage of leading the VPO. His 1974 recording for Decca still holds pride of place for me.

[Cato]

As far as the final movement not " meshing well " with the prior three, l suspect the writer in question may need to familiarize himself a bit more with those earlier movements, as Bruckner most assuredly uses earlier material in the Finale.

As far as the famous coda is concerned, Celibidache's rendering is a valuable alternative to the usual. The buildup is well-managed, though a tad slow as was his wont, and he closes it out successfully.

In the end, Karl Böhm ( and others ) makes better choices overall imho, and he has the unquestionable advantage of leading the VPO. His 1974 recording for Decca still holds pride of place for me.

Thanks for the reference!

Yes, the commenter has not heard the connections from the earlier movements in the Finale!

[Brian]

The Poschner "ultra-complete" symphony cycle featuring every edition of every symphony is being boxed up.

[André]

On a different Bruckner discussion site, a comment was made about the Finale of the Fourth Symphony: the writer found the movement problematic, especially the Coda, implying that it did not mesh well with the first three ovements, but that a way could be found to wrestle it into the mold, a way which, however, few conductors had found.

One of those, in the writer's opinion, was Sergiu Celibidache:

e.g.

What say ye?  Do you find anything "problematic" about the movement?

Whether you do or not, which perfoamnce(s) do you recommend, especially one with an excellent Finale?

Cato, are you referring to that comment ? 

« The 4th has a somewhat problematic finale (he made various versions and revisions). For me a performance that nails the coda is a successful one. Unfortunately not very many achieve that. You must hear clearly the pulsating viola figurations underneath the brass chorales and violins. That can only be achieved when the tempo is slow and rock steady. Try Celibidache, Ballot or Hrusa to hear that coda properly handled «