Search - Anton Bruckner, Justus Frantz, Philharmonie Der Nationen :: Bruckner: Symphonies Nos. 4, 7-9 [Germany]

I'm impresssed

Robert Mueller | Seattle WA | 06/12/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Frantz conducts the Bruckner #4 & #8, but not #7 & #9. Unmentioned by Amazon, Hans Rosbaud does #7 in '59 stereo and Furtwangler #9 in mono from '44, both all time great performances. I already own both, but will be pleased to give these duplicates to my friends.



Justus Fantz had been unfamiliar to me, but for under $10, I decided to take a chance. I am very familiar with many different interpretations of these Bruckner symphonies. I found Frantz refreshingly different and involved. He takes a slow, well articulated, and emotionally sustained reading in #4, with excellent sound recorded live. He also takes #8 deliberately, until he whips up the tempo for a generally exciting last movement. My only performance disappointment came during the coda, when he slackened tempos and lost cohesiveness. Also, this live recording was too distant and diffuse for my taste.



On balance, I was pleasantly surprised and even bolded over by #4.

"