BaL 22.03.25 - Bruckner: Symphony 4

[Pulcinella]

1500
Building a Library
William Mival chooses his favourite recordings of Bruckner's Symphony No. 4

Presto listing here:

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/works/33900--bruckner-symphony-no-4-in-eb-major-romantic/browse

The BBC MM issue (Volume 12, Number 6) is with the BBCSSO, under Ion Marin, recorded in the Music Hall, Aberdeen, on 2 November 2001.

Recommended recording:
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Manfred Honeck (conductor)
Reference Recordings FR-713

[Petrushka]

The usual recommendation for the Bruckner 4 for many years now has been the VPO/Böhm. Others have come and gone but it still stands supreme, and rightly so.

[smittims]

When the Tennstedt came out (EMI, Berlin Philharmonic) I thought it the equal of the Bohm. There have been many fine versions since then : Jochum, Barenboim, Blomstedt. I'd be hard-pressed to find one 'best', though privately I prefer Furtwangler to any other. .

[Barbirollians]

Is Mival a Brucknerian ? I have always found Bohm correct but rather boring - my favourites are the EMI Karajan , DG Jochum, Bruno Walter and the late BPO WAnd RCA recording.

[Alison]

The fairly recent Cleveland/Welser-Most could be a dark horse.

Lots of other fine recent versions including LSO/Rattle.

[Petrushka]

The fairly recent Cleveland/Welser-Most could be a dark horse.

Lots of other fine recent versions including LSO/Rattle.

I didn't really get on with the LSO/Rattle on first hearing (the only one so far) and I need to assess it again. Richard Osborne thought well of it and as I totally trust him when it comes to Bruckner that first hearing might have been when I wasn't in the mood.

I have a particularly soft spot for VPO/Haitink which has never received much attention and I do wonder if his recent very fine Bavarian Radio SO recording might be the one that William Mival will go for.

Needless to say, I've got very many versions on my shelves and lurking in boxes so choosing just one is impossible.

[Barbirollians]

I liked Haitink's LSO version.

[Barbirollians]

RO also thought well of the recent Thielemann. I enjoyed it but I have to admit I have not gone back to it after the first few listens.

[Wolfram]

Sadly Skrowaczewski’s recording with the Halle doesn’t appear to be available. It’s long been a favourite, and I would add it to the versions mentioned above. The version from his Saarbrucken series is listed, however, but I don’t know it.

[makropulos]

Pace the heading, this BAL is going to be on 22/3/25. For some reason, the one on 15/3/25 doesn't yet list the details, but I know what the work is going to be as I'm doing it...

[richardfinegold]

I’m not much on the different editions on the Bruckner Symphonies, but from what I understand the Fourth is the one with the biggest variances, with as much as 30% of the music being excised from the original
I’m with Barbs re: Bohm. Judging by the number of reissues and the formats that it has been reissued in-my copy is BluRay Audio- it’s short of pulse quickening. Solti/Chicago doesn’t get any love amongst Bruckner critics but I heard them live and that concert was the first time I was bowled over by Bruckner. I also second Karajan on EMI

[Petrushka]

I’m not much on the different editions on the Bruckner Symphonies, but from what I understand the Fourth is the one with the biggest variances, with as much as 30% of the music being excised from the original
I’m with Barbs re: Bohm. Judging by the number of reissues and the formats that it has been reissued in-my copy is BluRay Audio- it’s short of pulse quickening. Solti/Chicago doesn’t get any love amongst Bruckner critics but I heard them live and that concert was the first time I was bowled over by Bruckner. I also second Karajan on EMI

I also heard Chicago SO/ Solti live in the Bruckner 4 when they came to the Proms in 1981 oddly, but interestingly, coupled with the Bartok Concerto for Orchestra.

I've not heard his recording for many years. it's now in the big Solti/Chicago box and another one I need to reassess.

The Karajan EMI seemed to be hobbled by opaque sound, as I remember it, but, again it's several years since i last heard it.

[Pulcinella]

The plot thickens: I'm now reliably informed that this episode is on 22 March 2025!

[Wolfram]

Is Mival a Brucknerian ? I have always found Bohm correct but rather boring - my favourites are the EMI Karajan , DG Jochum, Bruno Walter and the late BPO WAnd RCA recording.

I too agree about the Bohm. I’ve just listened to Bohm and Jochum (DG, 1965) back to back, and whatever you might think about Jochum’s interventionist approach he certainly isn’t boring. By his side Bohm is a bit po-faced, as well played as it is. I liked the Jochum quite a lot; I know he pulls the tempi around, but it was full of character and exciting, and not at all like listening to a theory lecture. I have his later Dresden/EMI recording on the shelf and will give that a listen later.

Bruno Walter and one or other of Wand’s recordings must be in the running. I don’t know the EMI Karajan, only the DG, which I like, but not sure I prefer to Jochum.

[CallMePaul]

RO also thought well of the recent Thielemann. I enjoyed it but I have to admit I have not gone back to it after the first few listens.

I also enjoy the Thielemann and find it more to my taste than the Jochum/ Dresden recording which I have in the EMI. Warner box set.

Re Richard Finegold's comment, I am aware that the original version of this symphony is different from the usually played 1878-80 version but I have never heard it. I guess that it has been recorded but don't know by whom - can anyone enlighten me?