Search - Anton Bruckner, Vladimir Ashkenazy, German Symphony Orchestra Berlin :: Anton Bruckner: Symphony in F minor / Adagio - Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin / Vladimir Ashkenazy

Early Bruckner needs stronger advocacy...

Jeffrey Harris | Texas | 06/21/2008

(2 out of 5 stars)

"This unfamiliar music certainly sounds like Bruckner! The adagio is the more recognizably "Brucknerian" of the two pieces, although the beginning of the symphony could really be by no one but Bruckner.



I am holding onto this CD because the music is unfamiliar and worth hearing, but it is easy to imagine better performances. The orchestra plays well and is well-recorded, but the conducting is insensitive. Especially in the adagio, you will be sorry that Ashkenazy was not replaced by a better Bruckner conductor. The music at the end of the adagio, for instance, seems so delicate and beautiful, but the phrasing is lumpy and awkward in this performance.



To sum up: If you already know Bruckner's other 10 symphonies (yes, I am including "Die Nullte"!) then by all means try this one. I think you'll like the music. My advice is to buy a different CD, though. This performance isn't great.



If you're new to Bruckner's music, don't begin with this. Instead, find a good recording of Bruckner's 4th or 7th symphony. Good Fourths were recorded by Bohm on Decca, Karajan on EMI, and Ormandy with his Philadelphia Orchestra. There are others as well...check the reviews."