The deepest performances of the Bruckner symphonies.

[Mandryka]

A composer I know nothing about - the last time I enjoyed to a Bruckner symphony was in 1984. I just can't hear anything significant in the music. He may just not be my sort of composer, a blind spot, but it is time to explore that a bit more maybe. Recommendations appreciated.

[Jo498]

But you remembered for 40 years that you enjoyed it in 1984?

[Iota]

There are many great recordings of the symphonies, but I will say that Marek Janowski has been something of a Goldilocks conductor for me of late with these works. Everything seems there, intensity of feeling, clarity of detail, in music that yearns to be heard.

[pjme]

A composer I know nothing about - the last time I enjoyed to a Bruckner symphony was in 1984. I just can't hear anything significant in the music. He may just not be my sort of composer, a blind spot, but it is time to explore that a bit more maybe. Recommendations appreciated.

Mon dieu, Bruckner?! Be careful. Are you ready with Beethovens Missa solemnis?  

[Mandryka]

Mon dieu, Bruckner?! Be careful. Are you ready with Beethovens Missa solemnis?

Well, other people seem to like it!

[DavidW]

A composer I know nothing about - the last time I enjoyed to a Bruckner symphony was in 1984. I just can't hear anything significant in the music. He may just not be my sort of composer, a blind spot, but it is time to explore that a bit more maybe. Recommendations appreciated.

My gold standards are Jochum (both) and Karajan. My favorite digital set is Skrowacezski/Saarbrucken.

[pjme]

This is recent and may be unusual.... yet "fresh"?

[DavidW]

Heras-Casado is one of my favorite current conductors, I should check out this recording!

[Roasted Swan]

Heras-Casado is one of my favorite current conductors, I should check out this recording!

I always get a twitch with all these conductors who don't use batons!  I'm sure they will come up with a million reasons why its "more expressive" just to use hands.  But that's what the left hand is for.  Pity the poor player stuck at the back of a section (that'll be me!!) who is only watching the conductor with peripheral vision.  You can see a stick much more easily peripherally - its long and its white against a background so its more helpful that way.  Baton free conducting might be lovely for the conductor but it fails in the primary reason they are there - to facilitate the players.  Conducting makes no noise and relies on the players completely to create the actual music!!!!!

[brewski]

A composer I know nothing about - the last time I enjoyed to a Bruckner symphony was in 1984. I just can't hear anything significant in the music. He may just not be my sort of composer, a blind spot, but it is time to explore that a bit more maybe. Recommendations appreciated.

It's hard to know what might be the key that unlocks him for you. That said, to my brain, the most profound of the symphonies are the last two, Eight and Nine, so perhaps recordings of either of those might fill the bill. Are there conductors of other repertoire whom you naturally gravitate toward? (Just to narrow the field a bit.)

If it helps to be able to watch the ensemble, here's one by Wand, who is very gentle and "old school," and another by Honeck with the same orchestra. 

And if one of these doesn't do it, perhaps one of these other suggestions will.

-Bruce

[DavidW]

I always get a twitch with all these conductors who don't use batons!  I'm sure they will come up with a million reasons why its "more expressive" just to use hands.  But that's what the left hand is for.  Pity the poor player stuck at the back of a section (that'll be me!!) who is only watching the conductor with peripheral vision.  You can see a stick much more easily peripherally - its long and its white against a background so its more helpful that way.  Baton free conducting might be lovely for the conductor but it fails in the primary reason they are there - to facilitate the players.  Conducting makes no noise and relies on the players completely to create the actual music!!!!!

I didn't think of watching the clip. Yeah, he is a hand-waver! My favorite Bach conductor, Herreweghe, is as well and his gestures are subtle on top of that. He almost seems like he is just enjoying the music.

[Roasted Swan]

I didn't think of watching the clip. Yeah, he is a hand-waver! My favorite Bach conductor, Herreweghe, is as well and his gestures are subtle on top of that. He almost seems like he is just enjoying the music.

Well whoopy doo to that - I'm glad he is but help the players first.  This is even more true in the theatre where singers/dancers will often only be able to catch the conductor for a moment as they are turning.  The stick is much easier to spot than a subtle little hand gesture!!!!

[AnotherSpin]

A composer I know nothing about - the last time I enjoyed to a Bruckner symphony was in 1984. I just can't hear anything significant in the music. He may just not be my sort of composer, a blind spot, but it is time to explore that a bit more maybe. Recommendations appreciated.

My experience with Bruckner is similar to yours; at first, I couldn't hear anything either. Then, at some elusive moment, a miracle happened—an unnoticed door opened, and I found myself in a magical world. This was several decades ago, and since then, there have been various periods when I listened Bruckner more or less often. Now, I most frequently turn to the 7th and 8th, and a bit less often to the 9th. At one point, I was captivated by Celibidache's versions. I'm listening to the early Haitink' 7th often. Böhm's Bruckner is a relatively recent discovery. Jochum is very, very good—it took me time to understand that.

[Mandryka]

There are many great recordings of the symphonies, but I will say that Marek Janowski has been something of a Goldilocks conductor for me of late with these works. Everything seems there, intensity of feeling, clarity of detail, in music that yearns to be heard.

Since you were the first to make a suggestion I thought I'd start with Janowski - listening to 7 for no special reason. So far so good.

It's so weird how unforgettable the music is - even though it's been nearly half a century since I last heard it, it feels really familiar.

[hopefullytrusting]

My go-to is the Frankfurt Radio Symphony. (They are my go-to for any "normal" composer.)

Maybe the best live recordings, sonically, on YouTube:

https://m.youtube.com/@hrSinfonieorchester/videos

[AnotherSpin]

Since you were the first to make a suggestion I thought I'd start with Janowski - listening to 7 for no special reason. So far so good.

It's so weird how unforgettable the music is - even though it's been nearly half a century since I last heard it, it feels really familiar.

Your Bruckner has been with you all these years, in deep dormant state

[Mandryka]

Your Bruckner has been with you all these years, in deep dormant state

To be honest I think I feel the same about Mahler apart from maybe 7 , who I also listen to very rarely these days. Maybe it's because this type of music is so simple -  I don't feel the same about any Renaissance mass or a Schoenberg quartet - probably not with Missa Solemnis either.

[Mandryka]

Well I've come to the conclusion that I'm not ready for Bruckner yet. Thanks for the ideas, but the time isn't right.

[AnotherSpin]

Well I've come to the conclusion that I'm not ready for Bruckner yet. Thanks for the ideas, but the time isn't right.

It is always better to not be ready yet than to stop being ready 

[Florestan]

Well I've come to the conclusion that I'm not ready for Bruckner yet. Thanks for the ideas, but the time isn't right.

Man, you sound exactly like John (MI) in his numerous great but very short-lived enthusiasms for this or that composer.