Bruckner's Abbey

[North Star]

I came across this via an Austrian website: the article implied that this was a video recording of Leonard Bernstein's last conducting performance before his death.  The program included Bruckner's Ninth Symphony.

(Bruckner's masterpiece has never been heard like this, said newspaper headlines at the time.  A performance, which was celebrated with standing ovations.)

*("compositionally" seems to be some sort of academic preciosity, although I could be wrong.  Perhaps a German member here can comment.   I suppose one could translate it as "masterpiece of his composing career," or a "masterpiece of composition," which still seems unnecessary.)

Anyway...

See:  https://ooe.orf.at/news/stories/2931670/

Yeah, "compositional masterpiece" is certainly unnecessary - it's not as if we'd otherwise think it was his finest piece of bakery. A shame that there wasn't a finale in Bernstein's final performance..

[Draško]

I came across this via an Austrian website: the article implied that this was a video recording of Leonard Bernstein's last conducting performance before his death.  The program included Bruckner's Ninth Symphony.

They probably meant his last conducted performance in Austria, or with the Vienna Philharmonic, or the last recorded on video.

His last ever conducted performance will be some six months later at Tanglewood. This one:

[Cato]

They probably meant his last conducted performance in Austria, or with the Vienna Philharmonic, or the last recorded on video.

His last ever conducted performance will be some six months later at Tanglewood. This one:

I thought that there was a later performance of something: many thanks!

Yeah, "compositional masterpiece" is certainly unnecessary - it's not as if we'd otherwise think it was his finest piece of bakery. A shame that there wasn't a finale in Bernstein's final performance..

Yes, that would have been really something!  Unfortunately the quartet of musicologists had not yet come together to reconstruct the sketches of the Finale.

[North Star]

Yes, that would have been really something!  Unfortunately the quartet of musicologists had not yet come together to reconstruct the sketches of the Finale.

True, that's a pretty good excuse 0:)

[SurprisedByBeauty]

Some impressions from St. Florian (Bruckner 7)

[Cato]

Some impressions from St. Florian (Bruckner 7)

Marvelous!  So were you in the choir loft?

[SurprisedByBeauty]

Marvelous!  So were you in the choir loft?

Unfortunately. But the performance was such, that it didn't too much harm. In the B9, some years earlier, it had obscured even more of it. There aren't many good seats in St. Florian... only above the orchestra and in the first 10 rows, maybe. The worst is somewhere back in row 27 or so. Muddle instead of music.  Very intriguing performance, though! A score was used that was ridded of all accents and marks and additions that Schalk put into the score. (On Bruckner's behest or not; who knows.) Result was very much a smoothly flowing, anti-bombastic 7th. Despite the (however did that get to stay?) cymbal clash.

[Cato]

Unfortunately. But the performance was such, that it didn't too much harm. In the B9, some years earlier, it had obscured even more of it. There aren't many good seats in St. Florian... only above the orchestra and in the first 10 rows, maybe. The worst is somewhere back in row 27 or so. Muddle instead of music.  Very intriguing performance, though! A score was used that was ridded of all accents and marks and additions that Schalk put into the score. (On Bruckner's behest or not; who knows.) Result was very much a smoothly flowing, anti-bombastic 7th. Despite the (however did that get to stay?) cymbal clash.

I have been under the impression that modern musicologists e.g. Leopold Nowak have done away with all of the "improvements" from the Brothers Schalk and others, in an attempt to restore Bruckner's original intentions.  Do you know which specific edition was used in the performance which you attended?

[SurprisedByBeauty]

I have been under the impression that modern musicologists e.g. Leopold Nowak have done away with all of the "improvements" from the Brothers Schalk and others, in an attempt to restore Bruckner's original intentions.  Do you know which specific edition was used in the performance which you attended?

Yes, it's a brand new edition and this time they took out all that was done in the handwriting (!) of Schalk in Bruckner's score. Will get you more info anon.

[bhodges]

Unfortunately. But the performance was such, that it didn't too much harm. In the B9, some years earlier, it had obscured even more of it. There aren't many good seats in St. Florian... only above the orchestra and in the first 10 rows, maybe. The worst is somewhere back in row 27 or so. Muddle instead of music.  Very intriguing performance, though! A score was used that was ridded of all accents and marks and additions that Schalk put into the score. (On Bruckner's behest or not; who knows.) Result was very much a smoothly flowing, anti-bombastic 7th. Despite the (however did that get to stay?) cymbal clash.

Thanks for the interesting report (and the great photos!). A visit to St. Florian is on my (very long) list.

--Bruce

[bhodges]

On Saturday, 1 September, the annual Brucknerthon will happen in Carlsbad, California. It is hosted by a couple of devout fans, who play all of the symphonies (and sometimes other items) in order. All of the recordings are notable, including some rare air checks. Attendees are encouraged to come and go, and to bring "Bruckner's favorite beverage" (beer).

This year, the event will be broadcast live on Facebook. Search for "Brucknerthon" for details.

--Bruce

[TheGSMoeller]

On Saturday, 1 September, the annual Brucknerthon will happen in Carlsbad, California. It is hosted by a couple of devout fans, who play all of the symphonies (and sometimes other items) in order. All of the recordings are notable, including some rare air checks. Attendees are encouraged to come and go, and to bring "Bruckner's favorite beverage" (beer).

This year, the event will be broadcast live on Facebook. Search for "Brucknerthon" for details.

--Bruce

Good morning, Bruce.

I searched and didn't find this on FB, could've been user error, but if you have, or find, a link could you please post it? I would be interested to read about it.

Thanks, Bruce!

[bhodges]

Good morning, Bruce.

I searched and didn't find this on FB, could've been user error, but if you have, or find, a link could you please post it? I would be interested to read about it.

Thanks, Bruce!

Well, thank YOU, Greg, since I am unable to find the info myself! (The source -- reputable -- implied that it would pop right up during a search.) Let me do some more digging -- since I was planning to listen to a good chunk of it! -- and post here. That's what I get for not vetting properly! 

Update: OK, think I found it, on YouTube. Will post any additional info if located.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5LsP9B19ZT7UhnOTmoD22A

--Bruce

[TheGSMoeller]

Well, thank YOU, Greg, since I am unable to find the info myself! (The source -- reputable -- implied that it would pop right up during a search.) Let me do some more digging -- since I was planning to listen to a good chunk of it! -- and post here. That's what I get for not vetting properly! 

Update: OK, think I found it, on YouTube. Will post any additional info if located.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5LsP9B19ZT7UhnOTmoD22A

--Bruce

Cool.  Thanks for the link, Bruce!

[Daverz]

Well, thank YOU, Greg, since I am unable to find the info myself! (The source -- reputable -- implied that it would pop right up during a search.) Let me do some more digging -- since I was planning to listen to a good chunk of it! -- and post here. That's what I get for not vetting properly! 

Update: OK, think I found it, on YouTube. Will post any additional info if located.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5LsP9B19ZT7UhnOTmoD22A

--Bruce

Did anyone listen to the live stream?  I spent most of the time yakking, eating, or drinking, but I was impressed by the Asahina 0, the arrangement (not just an enlargement) of the Quintet, the Furtwängler 7 (1949), and the Kegel 8.  I'd like to listen to the Matačić 9 without distractions.  I only got 27% on the quiz :p.

[Cato]

Did anyone listen to the live stream?  I spent most of the time yakking, eating, or drinking, but I was impressed by the Asahina 0, the arrangement (not just an enlargement) of the Quintet, the Furtwängler 7 (1949), and the Kegel 8.  I'd like to listen to the Matačić 9 without distractions.  I only got 27% on the quiz :p.

Greetings!

Many thanks for the link!  I will need to wait until tomorrow to listen to the performances.  The performance of the Symphony 0 is especially intriguing for me.  Four years ago or so, the Toledo Symphony under Stefan Sanderling played Die Nullte in the Roman Catholic cathedral there.  (They had for a while played a different Bruckner symphony every year at that cathedral in the early 2000's.  They have not done it for a while: possibly a new bishop stopped it for whatever reason, but I am not sure.)

[André]

The new bishop must be a descendant of Eduard Hanslick 

[Cato]

The new bishop must be a descendant of Eduard Hanslick 

Possibly!       His arrival and the end of the concerts (they were very well attended) could be coincidental.   0:)   Nothing scheduled this year: a new conductor is in charge, a French Canadian named Alain Trudel.  He has scheduled a good number of "pops" concerts, but those have not affected the regular concerts.  I noticed a few contemporary works were on the programs.

[André]

Trudel is a trombonist turned conductor. His latest gig was with the Laval symphony, where I live. Never heard him live, though . From what I've read he is quite good. This cd is worth listening to:

[Cato]

Trudel is a trombonist turned conductor. His latest gig was with the Laval symphony, where I live. Never heard him live, though . From what I've read he is quite good. This cd is worth listening to:

Many thanks, André

His biography at the Toledo Symphony website quotes someone calling him "the Jascha Heifetz of the trombone."     Now THAT is high praise!