Introduction to Bruckner?
Posted by: Rubio on 18 January 2006
Now I have found out that I will try to delve into Bruckners work, and as I have understood it will be easiest for me to start with the symphony no. 7, as it should be the most accessible (together with no. 4).
So do you have any nice recommendations for symphony no. 7? I have read in the forum that Jochum, Giulini, Karajan, Wand and Celibidache should have excellent versions of this particular symphony. For me it's still difficult to choose 1-2 to start with, so I would very much appreciate some comments one which one you prefer and what kind of approach the specific conductor has taken.
So do you have any nice recommendations for symphony no. 7? I have read in the forum that Jochum, Giulini, Karajan, Wand and Celibidache should have excellent versions of this particular symphony. For me it's still difficult to choose 1-2 to start with, so I would very much appreciate some comments one which one you prefer and what kind of approach the specific conductor has taken.
Posted on: 18 January 2006 by Tam
Jochum's complete Dresden set can be had at budget price in an EMI box. Personally I rather like what Solti does with Bruckner, and I think his symphonies benefit from a little drive behind them.
The penguin guide recommends Tintner's set on Naxos (which also has both 0 and the study symphony and is very cheap), however, I have personally never got on that well with the set.
As you have suggested both 4 and 7 are good places to start. 8 is also very fine indeed as is 6. My big problems with Bruckner are than it does somewhat degenerate into 'one climax after another', the symphonies can also be a little samey.
regards, Tam
The penguin guide recommends Tintner's set on Naxos (which also has both 0 and the study symphony and is very cheap), however, I have personally never got on that well with the set.
As you have suggested both 4 and 7 are good places to start. 8 is also very fine indeed as is 6. My big problems with Bruckner are than it does somewhat degenerate into 'one climax after another', the symphonies can also be a little samey.
regards, Tam
Posted on: 18 January 2006 by Earwicker
Jochum or Wand - I can't get on with Tintner either.
Considering price, I'd go for Jochum.
EW
Considering price, I'd go for Jochum.
EW
Posted on: 18 January 2006 by Tam
My brother used to speak very highly of Wand, who used to do Bruckner every year at the Edinburgh festival into his 90s, but I never heard him (and don't have him on cd) so I can't comment.
regards, Tam
regards, Tam
Posted on: 18 January 2006 by graham55
Rubio (and others)
I'd strongly urge you to go for the Deutsche Grammophon Collector's Edition of Symphonies 3, 4, 5, 7, 8 and 9 with Sergiu Celibidache doing things that no other conductor comes close to. A quite remarkable series of recordings (and not terribly expensive, either).
And, yes, I have, or have heard, recordings by Jochum, Karajan, Boehm et al. They're not remotely in the same league as this extraordinary conductor in this music.
Graham
I'd strongly urge you to go for the Deutsche Grammophon Collector's Edition of Symphonies 3, 4, 5, 7, 8 and 9 with Sergiu Celibidache doing things that no other conductor comes close to. A quite remarkable series of recordings (and not terribly expensive, either).
And, yes, I have, or have heard, recordings by Jochum, Karajan, Boehm et al. They're not remotely in the same league as this extraordinary conductor in this music.
Graham
Posted on: 18 January 2006 by u5227470736789439
Dear Rubio,
The only caution I would offer over Graham's recomendation of Celibidachi is that he is willfully slow in a great deal of music. I have never felt this helps Bruckner flow logically, which it does in the hands of such as Bruno Walter, Otto Klemperer, Eugene Jochum or Wilhelm Furtwangler, and finest of all in my view Hans Knappertsbusch. Only my two pennies' worth, and I find Tintner incredibly slow too, which makes me shake my head in wonder that he should have been so lionised by the critics.
Symphonies 7 and 4 are the easiest to start off with. 5 is very tough, but I love it. I would strongly advise against the cheap option of buying a cycle. Too much of a good thing will produce reactions such those above that his music all the same (absolutely not true!), or poorly structured (it is transparently simply structured but deeply formally satisfying in almost every case), or merely a succession of climaxes (what else is wagner actually?) , but Bruckner is much more subtle than that. It is full of marvelous counterpoint, and his is the only nineteenth century contribution to countra-puntal music that come close the quality of work found in the music of JS Bach. Truely this is music to take one symphony at a time!
All the best from Fredrik
The only caution I would offer over Graham's recomendation of Celibidachi is that he is willfully slow in a great deal of music. I have never felt this helps Bruckner flow logically, which it does in the hands of such as Bruno Walter, Otto Klemperer, Eugene Jochum or Wilhelm Furtwangler, and finest of all in my view Hans Knappertsbusch. Only my two pennies' worth, and I find Tintner incredibly slow too, which makes me shake my head in wonder that he should have been so lionised by the critics.
Symphonies 7 and 4 are the easiest to start off with. 5 is very tough, but I love it. I would strongly advise against the cheap option of buying a cycle. Too much of a good thing will produce reactions such those above that his music all the same (absolutely not true!), or poorly structured (it is transparently simply structured but deeply formally satisfying in almost every case), or merely a succession of climaxes (what else is wagner actually?) , but Bruckner is much more subtle than that. It is full of marvelous counterpoint, and his is the only nineteenth century contribution to countra-puntal music that come close the quality of work found in the music of JS Bach. Truely this is music to take one symphony at a time!
All the best from Fredrik
Posted on: 19 January 2006 by kevj
There's also a nice (and cheap) set of Barenboim/Berlin Phil out at the moment. Symphonies 1-9 for about £15 in Virgin. I've got it and it's very good.
Posted on: 19 January 2006 by Earwicker
quote:Originally posted by Tam:
My brother used to speak very highly of Wand, who used to do Bruckner every year at the Edinburgh festival into his 90s, but I never heard him (and don't have him on cd) so I can't comment.
regards, Tam
I did get to hear the great man back in '94 ( I think!) and it was quite something!
EW
Posted on: 19 January 2006 by Oldnslow
There are ots of great Bruckner performances. I started many years ago listening to Bruckner via Mehta's 9th with Vienna Philharmonic,now remastered in Decca Legends series--a fantastic performance and in excellent sound. Maybe it is simply nostalgia, but I'd give the Mehta a try--an extremely powerful and moving reading. The truncated 9th (no last movement) is an unusual, but rewarding place to start--the most gut wrenching and forward looking of all his symphonies in my opinion. The 7th and 8th are wonderful too. The 8th is the only Bruckner symphony to really pull off a great final movement--- I enjoy many performances of the 8th, and the Karajan and Boulez are both fine modern performances. It's hard to beat Furtwangler if your ear allows you to enjoy historical performances. I suggest listening to modern readings first to learn the pieces, then you mind kind of fills in the gaps on the historical performances. Happy listening--just sit back and enjoy the "heavenly length" of this most unusual composer.