Thursdays

[Bryn]

Which Bruckner 8 is it to be? One of Bruckner's own or that cobbled together with linking material by Haas?

[Alison]

I believe Bernie H has ditched Haas now. For many years I confess I preferred the Haas version not knowing, not realising I was swimming against the tide.

[BBMmk2]

The Haas, the longer of the two? Lucky you, Alison! I hope to have a report on the concert!! :)

[Bryn]

The Haas, the longer of the two? Lucky you, Alison! I hope to have a report on the concert!! :)

Not sure what you mean, Bbm. Did Haas make a second edition, or are you not aware that Nowak has edited and had published, performed and recorded both the 1887 and 1890 versions without stitching them together with his own linking material?

[EdgeleyRob]

The only good thing about Thursdays ?,the day after is Bach day.

[amateur51]

The only good thing about Thursdays ?,the day after is Bach day.

And POETS day

[Roehre]

I believe Bernie H has ditched Haas now. For many years I confess I preferred the Haas version not knowing, not realising I was swimming against the tide.

AFAIK Haitink used the Nowak from the beginning, starting with the first RCO/Philips recorings in the 1970s

[ahinton]

The only good thing about Thursdays ?,the day after is Bach day.

But surely every day is Bach day, n'est-ce pas?

[Petrushka]

AFAIK Haitink used the Nowak from the beginning, starting with the first RCO/Philips recorings in the 1970s

I have all of Haitink's recordings of the Bruckner 8 and they say Haas without exception. Last night's LSO performance was Nowak. I'm not sure what has led to Haitink's change of mind but I do wonder if Haas' Nazi affiliations had something to do with it.

As an aside, A few years ago, I came across the grave of Leopold Nowak in Grinzing cemetery just outside Vienna, where Mahler is also buried.

[Alison]

Enjoy the performance Pet?

Predictably fine really. Lots of commitment from the orchestra I thought and some detail I hadn't picked up on before. What a shame no microphones were there.

[Petrushka]

Enjoy the performance Pet?

Predictably fine really. Lots of commitment from the orchestra I thought and some detail I hadn't picked up on before. What a shame no microphones were there.

I enjoyed it immensely thanks, though a bad cold hampered 100% enjoyment. The brass in particular were on fine form, I thought. I noticed lots of fresh detail as well, perhaps a more positive side effect of the Barbican acoustic. It crossed my mind that Haitink is now the oldest conductor I've seen having now overtaken both Böhm and Solti when I last saw them. I hope there are many more such evenings. Are you there next Thursday for his next LSO concert? I've used up all my holiday entitlement, alas (apart from days to come) so that's it for me now as far as weekday concerts are concerned.

[Alison]

Next Thursday (that day again!) is tempting though I'm not much of an Uchida fan.

I went with a musical neighbour who was extremely impressed by BH's command of the orchestra and the total lack of showmanship or messing around with the score: Qualities that us seasoned Haitink devotees come to take for granted.

Although Bryn and others will hate me saying so I can't help but prefer the Haas version and in particular the avoidance of that car crash moment in (iii) when a whole new musical paragraph seems to burst in prematurely! I was really getting into things by that point and my concentration faltered for a while. A lovely calm authority had established itself by the end of the same movement.

[Petrushka]

Next Thursday (that day again!) is tempting though I'm not much of an Uchida fan.

I went with a musical neighbour who was extremely impressed by BH's command of the orchestra and the total lack of showmanship or messing around with the score: Qualities that us seasoned Haitink devotees come to take for granted.

Although Bryn and others will hate me saying so I can't help but prefer the Haas version and in particular the avoidance of that car crash moment in (iii) when a whole new musical paragraph seems to burst in prematurely! I was really getting into things by that point and my concentration faltered for a while. A lovely calm authority had established itself by the end of the same movement.

I know the moment you mean in the Adagio. It seems as if some linking transition is all but essential at this point and Haas duly provided it. I miss it every time Nowak is played. And yes, Haitink's masterly control, getting exactly what he wants with very little gesture is something we take for granted.

[BBMmk2]

I love the day after Thursdays a lot. The trouble is, at the time of writing, it's Saturday and that means the weekend has already started and another week just around the corner!! Bah!!

Butt then, it's half term for me, so all good! I am able to write on my latest project!! :)

[Alison]

Some while since we've been treading this path.

The day before the Proms season kicks off has a flavour of its own, I suggest, bringing out the inherent Thursday qualities.....