One of the choice Bruckner Fifths
Jeffrey Lee | Asheville area, NC USA | 05/01/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Assuming the dates given are correct, Carl Schuricht produced two recordings of the Bruckner Fifth Symphony within about a year of each other---this Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra version in 1962 and a Vienna Philharmonic reading from 1963. Both were live performances. But before making a few comparative comments, I want to say that I enjoy this Stuttgart presentation from start to finish. No irritations, no disappointments. Credit goes not only to Schuricht for his wonderfully lyrical, balanced and authoritative approach but also the Stuttgart Radio Symphony, which provides throughout a consistently strong, focused level of play. In addition, the sound engineers give us a nice, clear window into the proceedings, with orchestral color and detail having good presence. One of the salient qualities of this offering is beautiful string and woodwind playing, particularly in the second movement. In comparing this account with that of the Vienna Philharmonic, one of the most obvious differences involves acoustics. In the Stuttgart venue, the orchestra enjoys a near mid hall perspective, and there is a sensation of atmosphere. In Vienna, the ensemble is fairly close, and the sound is somewhat dry, (quite similar acoustically to another live but well interpreted 1960s Bruckner Fifth with Eugen Jochum directing the Amsterdam Concertgebouw in Germany's Ottobeuren Abbey). Because of this, one feels more inside an enclosed concert hall. With the Stuttgart recording one has a greater sense of being out of doors, amidst the composer's Austrian landscape. Otherwise, particularly in the first movement, there are some slight differences in pacing between the two renditions. Also, in the Stuttgart version Schuricht follows or makes some cuts in the scherzo which I don't consider egregious. Overall, I have a slight preference for the Stuttgart conception mainly because of the better recorded sound it is given, though I admit the strings of the Vienna Philharmonic are hard to beat. Along with Knappertsbusch conducting the Vienna and Munich Philharmonics and Jochum leading the Bavarian Radio and Amsterdam Concertgebouw the two Schuricht performances mentioned here are my favorites in this epic work."
Magnificent Bruckner
Johannes Climacus | Beverly, Massachusetts | 10/02/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The other two reviewers are right on the mark. Though not as famous as Karajan, Furtwängler, Jochum, or even Gunter Wand, Schuricht arguably surpassed them all in those Bruckner symphonies he chose to record (live or in the studio). Though he never made a commercial recording of the Fifth, two live accounts have come down to us, one with the VPO (apparently hard to find--I have not heard it), and this monaural broadcast performance with the SWR/Stuttgart, issued in Hänssler's excellent Karl Schuricht series with this ensemble.
The Fifth is perhaps the toughest Bruckner symphony to appreciate (and probably also to conduct). It is a vast, expansive, episodic, and (particularly in the finale) densely contrapuntal work. It *can* sound ponderous, lugubrious, pompous and simply incoherent in second-rate interpretations. If any or all of these adjectives apply in your experience of the work, then you really must hear Schuricht's account. It is, on the contrary, genial, diaphanous, gracious, uplifting, with eloquence unforced, and textures at times surprisingly "delicate" (yes, Bruckner can be delicate, especially in the *Gesangsperiode* or lyrical episodes, of which there are many protracted examples in the Fifth). Despite the broad tempo, Schuricht manages effortlessly to hold the sprawling structure of the fugal-sonata-rondo finale together; in the slow movement, the tricky two-against-three rhythms are allowed to "pull" against each other without entirely pulling apart--a particularly difficult passage to negotiate. The ferocity, or perhaps mock-ferocity, of the Scherzo is superbly conveyed (there's more than a touch of humor in this work--another quality which Schuricht manages to bring out better than many conductors). Only the first movement arouses some concern: The slow introduction generates a wonderful sense of expectancy and rapture, but once the main allegro gets going, Schuricht inexplicably pulls the tempo about and engages in some disruptive rubati that at remind me of Jochum at his most vertiginous. But that's the price one pays for hearing a live performance--interpretive gestures that arise spontaneously and impress momentarily in concert, can come to sound eccentric on repetition.
Throughout this performance the SWR forces acquit themselves admirably. There are the expected horn fluffs and moments of shaky ensemble here and there, but overall the orchestra manages to produce a richly textured, yet shimmering and uncluttered sonority just right for Bruckner. As with all of the recordings I have heard in Hänssler's Schuricht edition thus far (about six), the engineering is surprisingly good--clear, expansive and mostly undistorted--for monaural broadcast material from the 1950's.
If you are new to Bruckner, or don't yet own a recording of the Fifth Symphony, I wouldn't start with this performance, wonderful though it is. This symphony's delicate traceries, continuously shifting textures, and apocalyptic climaxes, require a more modern recording (and, to be frank, a better orchestra than the SWR of this vintage) to have their fullest effect. For any prospective listener in this category, I recommend Karajan/BPO in this work as the best place to start; or, if you are allergic to Karajan, try Jochum, Haitink, or Solti (all convincing in their very different ways). On the other hand, veteran Brucknerians, admirers of the conductor, and collectors of historical recordings should all consider adding this magnificent rendition of Bruckner Fifth to their libraries."
Track Listings (4) - Disc #1
