Our Summer BAL 12 - Bruckner's 4th Symphony

[verismissimo]

Since it's BaL break-time for the summer on CD Review, I thought we might conduct our own surveys again for a few weeks, starting this time with Bruckner 4.

We did this last year and the works that received the most posts, curiously, were:

Elgar Cello Concerto
Beethoven Piano Sonata in C mi op 111
Schoenberg Violin Concerto
Bach Goldberg Variations

I think the point each week is to speak for ourselves and reach no particular conclusion.


SEE POST 53 for list of recordings.

[Petrushka]

There's hardly a duff recording of the Bruckner 4 out there.

One of the very first Bruckner recordings I bought was VPO/Furtwangler in a 1951 Munich concert on a Decca Eclipse LP in 1974. It wouldn't detain a BaL reviewer for long today but it still retains a fond place in my personal pantheon of Bruckner recordings even though I have never heard it on CD.

VPO/Bohm has long held sway amongst the critics and it is indeed a wonderful disc but other favourites in my collection are Columbia SO/Bruno Walter, BPO/Jochum, BPO/Karajan (on EMI) and VPO/Haitink.

However, my top recommendation goes to a live performance from the Concertgebouw and Eugen Jochum in a 1975 concert available on the Tahra label. The audience are occasionally intrusive, for those who worry about such things, but the blend of the special Concertgebouw sound and Jochum's inspired direction give this recording a status out there on it's own. It should be much better known than it is and I recommend with all possible enthusiasm.

[amateur51]

However, my top recommendation goes to a live performance from the Concertgebouw and Eugen Jochum in a 1975 concert available on the Tahra label. The audience are occasionally intrusive, for those who worry about such things, but the blend of the special Concertgebouw sound and Jochum's inspired direction give this recording a status out there on it's own. It should be much better known than it is and I recommend with all possible enthusiasm.

Is this the one, Petrushka?

http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/search.php?searchString=Bruckner+symphiony+no+4+Jochum+Tahra

[HighlandDougie]

One of my great re-discoveries in the Decca Sound box was the Böhm/VPO but I'm much taken with Petrushka's espousal of the Jochum so must add it to my mental, "if I see it, buy it", list. By a coincidence, I have just bought a ticket to hear Esa-Pekka Salonen conduct this symphony next month in Edinburgh. Not an association I would readily have made so it should be interesting.

[HighlandDougie]

Is this the one, Petrushka?

http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/sea...4+Jochum+Tahra

Thanks, Am 51. I can just go ahead and order it

[Petrushka]

Is this the one, Petrushka?

http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/sea...4+Jochum+Tahra

Apologies for being too lazy to put up a link. Yes, that's the one.

[Parry1912]

Hard to pick out a particular favourite for this work but I recently acquired the Cologne/Wand box from Sony (http://www.blahdvd.com/Music/Anton-B...82/product.htm) and the 4th on that deserves mention.

[Richard Tarleton]

I must have another listen to my Walter/Columbia SO recording on LP....I have the Wand/BPO live recording from 1998 which is very fine...

[verismissimo]

I appear to have just three versions: Philharmonia/Klemperer, BPO/Karajan and BPO/Barenboim.

I'll review in the week and report back.

If I'm tempted by another, it would be Columbia/Walter. Opinion, please, RT.

[Richard Tarleton]

Will do! I have the same team doing Schubert 9, and have always been struck by how Brucknerian it sounds - a defitite line of succession there....I've just had a look on Amazon to see how available the Bruckner 4 is on CD, a couple of second hand copies there - it's listed as "Claudio Abbado's choice", not sure what that's about, there isn't a review by him

[Petrushka]

This is the Bruno Walter recording of the 4th (coupled with the 9th) that I have:http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bruckner-Sym...1682266&sr=1-4

This 4th was strongly recommended by Richard Osborne in the Gramophone.

A strong candidate for reissue in a Sony box, I'd say.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I have the same team doing Schubert 9, and have always been struck by how Brucknerian it sounds - a definite line of succession there....

[PJPJ]

There's hardly a duff recording of the Bruckner 4 out there.

One of the very first Bruckner recordings I bought was VPO/Furtwangler in a 1951 Munich concert on a Decca Eclipse LP in 1974. It wouldn't detain a BaL reviewer for long today but it still retains a fond place in my personal pantheon of Bruckner recordings even though I have never heard it on CD.

VPO/Bohm has long held sway amongst the critics and it is indeed a wonderful disc but other favourites in my collection are Columbia SO/Bruno Walter, BPO/Jochum, BPO/Karajan (on EMI) and VPO/Haitink.

However, my top recommendation goes to a live performance from the Concertgebouw and Eugen Jochum in a 1975 concert available on the Tahra label. The audience are occasionally intrusive, for those who worry about such things, but the blend of the special Concertgebouw sound and Jochum's inspired direction give this recording a status out there on it's own. It should be much better known than it is and I recommend with all possible enthusiasm.

I can add nothing to your choices all of which I second. The VPO/Furtwangler in a 1951 Munich concert is on Archipel in a reasonable transfer and also on other labels. Well worth considering.

[Barbirollians]

The 1970 EMI Karajan for me though I also treasure the late BPO/Wand. The Celi recording on EMI is amazing but perhaps not for everyday .

[scottycelt]

The 1970 EMI Karajan for me though I also treasure the late BPO/Wand. The Celi recording on EMI is amazing but perhaps not for everyday .

I'd go along with the Wand, Bohm and Jochum accounts in that order, and also the Karajan as mentioned. In my opinion, the latter conductor was arguably the most consistently impressive interpreter of the symphonies, with the one exception of his horrendously slow 1950's Eighth which even makes any of Celi's sound like a sprint in comparison.

I also agree that Celi's 4th is quite extraordinary in parts, especially the coda to the Finale which is truly breathtaking, and is well worth purchasing for that alone!