Bruckner's Abbey

[Karl Henning]

By the way: blaring and twinkling . . . I like that.

[Cato]

... and the Jochum with Staatskapelle Dresden, which I shall listen to next.  Thanks for that!   

That set is from the 1970's, and while some people have mentioned the "rugged" sound of  the Staatskapelle Dresden (especially in the brass) as giving the works a more primal edge, others think it is simply incompetent at times.   

My memory of the set is that it simply gives us Jochum c. 10 years older with another way of conducting the symphonies.  (I last heard it in the spring of 2007).

Specifically of the First Symphony my memory says that it was equal to the DGG recording from the 1960's. 

Tell us about your dreams after listening to the First so often in one day!   0:)

[Karl Henning]

Love the switch from the sublime conclusion of the Adagio into the fiery Scherzo.

[Sergeant Rock]

It's Chailly with the RCO I'm listening to.  I will play Haitink with the same band, the same piece, in a wee while, see if I can figure it out.  Or Wand.

How superb.  This will occupy my entire night, listening to the first by different conductors, including the RSNO with Tintner and the Jochum with Staatskapelle Dresden, which I shall listen to next.  Thanks for that!   

If you listen to those conductors, you'll hear three versions of the symphony. Cool.

UNREVISED LINZ 1866 HAAS   TINTNER
LINZ 1877 NOWAK   JOCHUM
LINZ 1877 NOWAK   HAITINK
VIENNA 1891 BRUCKNER   CHAILLY
VIENNA 1891 BRUCKNER   WAND


Sarge

[Karl Henning]

Surprises me to consider so, but I'm quite a Bruckner fan now.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

That set is from the 1970's, and while some people have mentioned the "rugged" sound of  the Staatskapelle Dresden (especially in the brass) as giving the works a more primal edge, others think it is simply incompetent at times.   

I dunno..."incompetent" doesn't sound right to me.

There are indeed some "brass intrusions" on occasion but it's not so intrusive as to disrupt overall enjoyment.

Although maybe I haven't done myself any favors by listening to all those "historical recordings" in my classical youth.

My memory of the set is that it simply gives us Jochum c. 10 years older with another way of conducting the symphonies.

+1

[DavidRoss]

Surprises me to consider so, but I'm quite a Bruckner fan now.

One never knows where the day's big surprise will be found. 

[Cato]

Love the switch from the sublime conclusion of the Adagio into the fiery Scherzo.

Amen, Brother!   0:)

Surprises me to consider so, but I'm quite a Bruckner fan now.

Dudes!     It is official!  Karl is in the club!   

[Mirror Image]

Surprises me to consider so, but I'm quite a Bruckner fan now.

I didn't know you weren't a Bruckner fan. What brought about this sudden change of heart?

[Mirror Image]

Next up for Karl, Gustav Mahler!

[Karl Henning]

One never knows where the day's big surprise will be found. 

The process started, really, with those insidious Masses : )

Then, I think, there came the Ninth Symphony in a Giulini box . . . and then it was just a matter of time.

[Cato]

Next up for Karl, Gustav Mahler!

A logical assumption!    

I have always found the Mahler First Symphony to be a descendant of Bruckner's Third.

Recently a high-school friend (who is no fan of Mahler) remarked that Mahler's first 4 symphonies do not quite approach the Ultima Thule found in Bruckner's last 3 or 4 symphonies: cf. e.g. Mahler's First Symphony (c. 1888) with Bruckner's Eighth Symphony from around the same year.

I commented that the Mahler does indeed enter terra incognita, especially with the third movement, and with smaller things in the finale like the final transition ( the triplet in the violas).  To be sure, the Bruckner Eighth may be more monumental, the Mahler spunkier...

Which is quite fine, of course, since they are both barn-burners!   

[DavidRoss]

Karl, you're setting a terrible example. How dare you keep listening with an open mind!

[Mirror Image]

Has anyone heard any of the performances from Blomstedt's Gewandaus cycle? A box set is coming out soon and I'm thinking about getting it with my birthday money along with the Harnoncourt set coming out in February.

[jlaurson]

Has anyone heard any of the performances from Blomstedt's Gewandaus cycle? A box set is coming out soon and I'm thinking about getting it with my birthday money along with the Harnoncourt set coming out in February.

Yep... it's typical Blomstedt: If you don't listen carefully and attentively, you could very easily miss the plenty of subtle, understated excellence that he delivers. With particularly good sound, too... talking primarily about the orchestra but also the recordings. Well, judging from 5, 6, 7, 8 at least (and live performances) -- the other ones I have yet to hear. Not impressive, but quietly delightful. And never judge a Blomstedt Bruckner performance before you've heard all four movements. :-)

A Survey of Bruckner Cycles

[Mirror Image]

Yep... it's typical Blomstedt: If you don't listen carefully and attentively, you could very easily miss the plenty of subtle, understated excellence that he delivers. With particularly good sound, too... talking primarily about the orchestra but also the recordings. Well, judging from 5, 6, 7, 8 at least (and live performances) -- the other ones I have yet to hear. Not impressive, but quietly delightful. And never judge a Blomstedt Bruckner performance before you've heard all four movements. :-)

A Survey of Bruckner Cycles

Thanks, Jens. I'll checkout Blomstedt's cycle. Right now, I'm making my through the Celibidache cycle on EMI. Great stuff.

[jlaurson]

Thanks, Jens. I'll checkout Blomstedt's cycle. Right now, I'm making my through the Celibidache cycle on EMI. Great stuff.

Two different worlds, altogether. I like them both very much... but I definitely love Celi. Well... 3, 5, 6 most particularly. Those are the bees' knees. Or bumble bees' feet, perhaps. The rest works better if one has experienced Celi and the MPhil with them live, also (which I haven't), or if one is a devoted disciple of the Celi-cult.

[Mirror Image]

Two different worlds, altogether. I like them both very much... but I definitely love Celi. Well... 3, 5, 6 most particularly. Those are the bees' knees. Or bumble bees' feet, perhaps. The rest works better if one has experienced them live, also (which I haven't), or if one is a devoted disciple of the Celi-cult.

I'm listening to his 6th right now. Finished his 5th performance a little earlier. Fine performances. I've also not made it through Maazel's or Inbal's sets yet, so I'm working on those as well.

[Brian]

Celi's Bruckner 6th is one of those recordings that ought to be in a hall of fame somewhere, surrounded by gold trophies and wreaths of flowers and letters from adoring fans.

[Mirror Image]

Celi's Bruckner 6th is one of those recordings that ought to be in a hall of fame somewhere, surrounded by gold trophies and wreaths of flowers and letters from adoring fans.

That Adagio is EPIC! I mean seriously! This movement alone should get the gold prize in total awesomeness.