Bruckner's Abbey

[brewski]

Yesterday I had a great introduction to the original 1873 version of the Third, which I don't recall ever hearing, with Yannick Nézet-Séguin and The Philadelphia Orchestra. Though I hadn't heard the piece in a while, I was struck by some of the dramatic, often startling transitions, which I don't recall in the other versions.

Yannick gave a very helpful and sometimes funny introduction, describing Bruckner as a "people pleaser," and not always with the willpower to stick to his original ideas. After the glow of this performance has faded, I will certainly listen to one of the many recordings using the revisions. I recall the later version(s) being "smoother" with fewer pauses and surprises; yesterday seemed to have more silences, and sequences with solo winds.

The orchestra sounded magnificent, with the brass (especially) rising to the occasion. WRTI, the public radio station here, has a weekly program of recent live performances, and if I get word of when this concert will be broadcast, I'll try to remember to post a notice here.

Honestly, yesterday made No. 3 sound like one of his best symphonies, which is saying a lot. I still have it banging around in my head.

[André]

It took me a long time to appreciate the original version of the 3rd. It's as different from the 1889 version as the original 8th is from the final version - almost a different work. Much of the material is familiar, but it acquires a new dimension, creates a different impression: more poetic, more expansive, less ... martial maybe ?

I've heard a few of the 1873 releases out there and have been most taken with the Tudor disc under Jonathan Nott.