I recently discovered an absolute gem on YouTube. I had heard about the Bruckner Symphony Cycle with, of all outfits, the USSR Ministry of Culture Symphony Orchestra/Gennady Rozhdestvensky but I was previously only familiar with a recording of that bombastic-sounding and heavily-bowdlerised Fifth which would never have found a place of honour on my music shelf. However some kind soul has uploaded the whole cycle plus recordings of more obscure versions including a version of the 4th by Mahler. I never knew that even existed, tbh, though I know M. had done a piano transcription of the Third? Yes, No 0 and No 00 are included as well.
What a revelation! This is raw, unexpurgated Bruckner, the rough-hewn country-lad, so refreshingly different from the overgrown altar-boy preferred by some conductors. Just listen to that wonderfuly confident and strident brass, cheeky woodwind interjections, gloriously singing strings underpinned by a thumping bass rhythm! It is fascinating to hear the different versions of the Third, Fourth and Eighth in particular. I think a lot of good stuff was discarded in the later versions of these works, though there were some undoubted 'improvements' The Sixth is a pure joy with the most triumphant conclusion I have yet encountered. The last majestic bars of the Seventh are slowed down to great effect though that won't please everyone, I'm sure.
I do wonder if Rozhdestvensky's interpretations have more in common with the Bruckner who actually existed and not the one with which we are familiar. It certainly works for me and I've always yearned for a 'no holds barred' approach to this composer. Rozhdestvensky & Comrades certainly deliver here, and some!
The symphonies are joined together in three sections. I have separated them and converted to .flac format from the best quality HD download ... the resulting sound is excellent.
A Word of Warning: For those Brucknerians who like their Bruckner tamed and 'smooth', a la HVK, maybe best ignore this thread altogether!
What a revelation! This is raw, unexpurgated Bruckner, the rough-hewn country-lad, so refreshingly different from the overgrown altar-boy preferred by some conductors. Just listen to that wonderfuly confident and strident brass, cheeky woodwind interjections, gloriously singing strings underpinned by a thumping bass rhythm! It is fascinating to hear the different versions of the Third, Fourth and Eighth in particular. I think a lot of good stuff was discarded in the later versions of these works, though there were some undoubted 'improvements' The Sixth is a pure joy with the most triumphant conclusion I have yet encountered. The last majestic bars of the Seventh are slowed down to great effect though that won't please everyone, I'm sure.
I do wonder if Rozhdestvensky's interpretations have more in common with the Bruckner who actually existed and not the one with which we are familiar. It certainly works for me and I've always yearned for a 'no holds barred' approach to this composer. Rozhdestvensky & Comrades certainly deliver here, and some!
The symphonies are joined together in three sections. I have separated them and converted to .flac format from the best quality HD download ... the resulting sound is excellent.
A Word of Warning: For those Brucknerians who like their Bruckner tamed and 'smooth', a la HVK, maybe best ignore this thread altogether!
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