Anton BRUCKNER (1824-1896)
Symphony No. 4 in E flat major Romantic (1878/1880 version) [65:43]
Symphony No. 7 in E major (1883) [64:52]
Symphony No. 9 in D minor (Finale completed by William Carragan in 2010 revised
version) (1896) [83:41]
Philharmonie Festiva/Gerd Schaller
rec. live, Ebrach Abbey, Bavaria, Germany, 29 July 2007 (No.4), 29 July 2008
(No.7), 1 August 2010 (No.9)
HÄNSSLER PROFIL PH11028 [4 CDs: 65:43 + 64:52 + 36:54 + 46:47]
These performances were given at the Ebrach Summer Music Festival as part
of the Bruckner Festival in 2007, 2008 and 2010. In co-operation with Bavarian
Radio the recordings were made in the glorious setting of the Ebrach Abbey
church in Bavaria which on this evidence has a splendid acoustic.
The Philharmonie Festiva may be a new name to many readers. This is a highly
accomplished orchestra comprising mainly members of the Munich Bach Soloists
augmented by musicians from the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and the
Munich Philharmonic. Taking the baton is Bamberg-born conductor Gerd Schaller
who is the founder and musical director of the Ebrach Summer Music Festival.
The performance of the Ninth Symphony contains the first recording
of the revised 2010 version of the finale completed by William Carragan. Carragan
is a contributing editor of the Anton Bruckner Collected Edition and has prepared
a new edition of Bruckner’s Symphony No. 2. From 1979 to 1983 he worked on
a finale for the Bruckner Ninth. That first completion can be heard from the
Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Yoav Talmi on Chandos CHAN 8468/9
but revisions also followed in 2003 and 2006.
Composed in 1874, the Symphony No. 4 in E flat major, known
as the Romantic, has been given wholesale revisions at various times.
The 1878/1880 version recorded on this disc has been described by composer
and musicologist Robert Simpson as, “clean and lean”. The memorable
opening under Gerd Schaller is marvellously done; immediately convincing.
Schaller’s pacing is impressive navigating the flow and broad sweep of the
writing with broad assurance. The horns have a significant part throughout
and the Philharmonie Festiva brass is in impressive form displaying a burnished
tone.
Composed in 1881-83, the Symphony No. 7 in E major is the most popular
of Bruckner’s symphonies and it brought the composer the greatest success
he had known. It was Arthur Nikisch who conducted the premičre at Leipzig
in 1884. Schaller attains great nobility in a performance that leaves a powerful
effect. The orchestral climaxes are remarkable with Schaller astutely building
the tension from calm hush to furious climax.
Bruckner was working on his Symphony No. 9 in D minor at the time of
his death in 1896. The first three movements were completed with sketches
left for a fourth. Bruckner said, “I have served my purpose of earth; I
have done what I could, and there is only one thing I would still like to
be granted: the strength to finish my Ninth Symphony.” At Bruckner’s own
suggestion the unfinished symphony was often performed with the Te deum
serving as the final movement. For this Ebrach Abbey performance Schaller
uses the revised 2010 version of the final movement as completed by William
Carragan. In this reading I was struck how confidently Schaller demonstrates
a real understanding of the score’s structure. There’s a splendid clarity
about his reading. In addition I love the way Schaller emphasises the spiritual
qualities especially in the gloriously played second movement Adagio.
This is a really impressive release. The engineers have done a remarkable
job providing a clear, well-balanced sound. There are decent notes in the
booklet. Carragan’s completion of the Ninth Symphony is an added attraction.
Michael Cookson
Masterwork Index: Symphony
4 ~~ Symphony 7 ~~
Symphony 9
A really impressive release.