Bruckner's Abbey

[Brian]

I am very happy to report that Herbert Blomstedt's Bruckner Seventh, with the Staatskapelle Dresden, is now available on compact disc once more, having been licensed to the Dal Segno label in the UK. 

[Opus106]

I am very happy to report that Herbert Blomstedt's Bruckner Seventh, with the Staatskapelle Dresden, is now available on compact disc once more, having been licensed to the Dal Segno label in the UK. 

Yes. It was released sometime last year.

[Herman]

This goes into the favorites pile along wth Celibidache, Klemperer, Stein, Dohnányi.

The real question is, however, whether Norrington will still be in that pile in a year's time, when your initial enthusiasm has worn off.

BTW if this is your favorite 6th pile (and it would never occur to me to call this symphony uniquely undramatic among Bruckner's symphonies) what happened to Blomstedt on his way to that pile?

[Sergeant Rock]

The real question is, however, whether Norrington will still be in that pile in a year's time, when your initial enthusiasm has worn off.

Since it is unlike any other version I've heard, I doubt it will lose its appeal. I appreciate unique takes on familiar music; appreciate classical music's mavericks.

What happened to Blomstedt on his way to that pile?

Don't own any of his Bruckner recordings. I'd like to have his Querstand and Dal Segno CDs. Maybe those will be my next major purchase.

Sarge

[Scarpia]

The real question is, however, whether Norrington will still be in that pile in a year's time, when your initial enthusiasm has worn off.

My initial enthusiasm has worn off, and I haven't even bought the recording yet.   

[Brian]

Don't own any of his Bruckner recordings. I'd like to have his Querstand and Dal Segno CDs. Maybe those will be my next major purchase.

When you're making your Dal Segno order, throw in Blomstedt's Strauss too (Also Sprach Z, Tod und V, Don Juan). My copy had pauses between each movement of Zarathustra, but the folks at the record company assure me that that has been fixed.

[Renfield]

I saw earlier in the International Record Review - which also has an interesting article by Hänssler himself, on his role in the music world, etc. - that Profil is shortly issuing Thielemann's first recording in Dresden, and that it's the Bruckner 8th.

[Wanderer]

I saw earlier in the International Record Review - which also has an interesting article by Hänssler himself, on his role in the music world, etc. - that Profil is shortly issuing Thielemann's first recording in Dresden, and that it's the Bruckner 8th.

I saw that (the recording, not the article), too; in fact, it's already available on jpc.de.

[Renfield]

I saw that (the recording, not the article), too; in fact, it's already available on jpc.de.

Ah, I saw the Amazon.de listing, but it wasn't available yet. And JPC's asking price isn't bad. Hm.

[oabmarcus]

Ah, I saw the Amazon.de listing, but it wasn't available yet. And JPC's asking price isn't bad. Hm.

I am going to listen to that once NML uploads it.

[Lethevich]

I was under the impression that Bruckner's "Majestoso" tempo marking from the 6th symphony was a spelling mistake on his part, and many recordings correct it to Maestoso, but I just noticed this on Wikipedia:

Bruckner labels this movement "Majestoso", not the conventional "Maestoso", probably from his Latin (from "Maiestas" - sovereign power).

It's unsourced and probably BS, but do you think there is anything to it?

[BMW]

I was under the impression that Bruckner's "Majestoso" tempo marking from the 6th symphony was a spelling mistake on his part, and many recordings correct it to Maestoso, but I just noticed this on Wikipedia:
It's unsourced and probably BS, but do you think there is anything to it?

Maybe...it may be harder to believe that such an obsessive compulsive would let a "mistake" like that past (if it was indeed his mistake).  Is it that way on the manuscript?

[jlaurson]

I was under the impression that Bruckner's "Majestoso" tempo marking from the 6th symphony was a spelling mistake on his part, and many recordings correct it to Maestoso, but I just noticed this on Wikipedia:
It's unsourced and probably BS, but do you think there is anything to it?

"Majestaet" is how an Austrian would refer to the King & Queen. It would have been a word much more familiar, in sound, than "Maestoso". Even for a musician. Either it's a 'homophone spelling error' (where you accidentally write a word the way it sounds to you in your head), or he made a joke (or not a joke) by labeling it "Royally".

[The new erato]

His Royal Highness in Norwegian = Hans Majestet

[Lethevich]

Thanks. I am now leaning towards retaining his spelling, but it would only take a few minutes to retag the files anyway, so I am mostly making a big deal about nothing

[Karafan]

Well I am new to this particular site but have very much enjoyed reading this informative Bruckner thread.

This week's Bruckner buys are Andreae's cycle on M&A (just arrived today so not yet listened to) and the Munich PO/Kempe 4&5 on Pilz.  I do adore Kempe as a rule but only have him in B8 with the Tonhalle to date, but man alive!  This 4 and 5 are real worldbeaters on a first listen - I have no idea why they are not better known.  The recording quality is also first rate with the MPO beautifully caught in top drawer mid '70s sound.

Interestingly, they were recorded in the Buergerbraukeller, Munich - site of the bomb attempt on Hitler's life.

Look forward to throwing my tuppenneth into some of the chat on here.  Will report back with my humble observations on the new CDs soon!

Karafan

[bhodges]

Hi Karafan, and welcome.  If you like, feel free to post something about yourself in the "Introductions" section of the board.

And you'll find many Bruckner fans here, including me.   

--Bruce

[vandermolen]

I just received a postcard from Austria, written by my sister-in-law stating that " The 'Pilgerfahrt' for Bruckner is going v. well". My brother has taken her on a pilgrimage to all the sites associated with Bruckner, including Linz, Ansfelden, St Florian etc. The postcard featured a picture of a room in the house where Bruckner was born (his father was a school-teacher). My brother apparently wrote in the visitor's book that being there was 'a dream come true'.

[Mirror Image]

Anyone heard this?  He's also done the 9th, maybe others, and I think he is embarking on a complete cycle.  I enjoyed his Beethoven, but that style would not really be suitable for Bruckner, IMO - so it makes me wonder what he would bring to these works.

Jarvi's Bruckner recordings are, to put bluntly, drab. They are directionless and lifeless. I like full-blooded Bruckner, but with an emphasis on dynamics and structure, which I believe Wand, Chailly, Giulini, and Bohm deliever in spades. I do like some of Skrowaczewski's cycle (originally on Arte Nova, now on Oehms Classics) as well. Karajan, Jochum, Barenboim, Tintner, and Solti leave me cold. Haitink was great in his newly recorded 6th on the Profil label and I enjoyed his 7th recording with the CSO on their own label too. Haitink's earlier cycle on Philips is decent, but not one of my favorites.

[Drasko]

This could be very good. New release from Bavarian radio:


http://www.mdt.co.uk/MDTSite/product/NR_November10/900703.htm

BRUCKNER
Symphony No. 8, c Minor

Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks / Rafael Kubelík

Live-Recordings, Munich, Herkulessaal, 12.5.1977.

Rafael Kubelík enriched the repertoire of the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks primarily with works by Czech composers and 20th century music. However, during his period as chief conductor of the orchestra, he also fostered the traditional German romantic repertoire with which the ensemble had made a name for itself as far back as its founding years under Eugen Jochum. In May of 1977 Kubelík conducted Bruckner's Symphony No. 8 in C minor at a concert in Munich's Herkulessaal, the recording of which is now being released. In a review in Munich's Süddeutsche Zeitung, the orchestra was rated as equal in rank to such famous Bruckner orchestras as the Berlin and Vienna Philharmonic Orchestras.

A document of the Bruckner tradition that linked Rafael Kubelík with the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks.

A  new remastering brings out the best possible sound quality from the master tape from 1977.

BR Klassik 900703