Search - Anton Bruckner, Hans Knappertsbusch, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra :: Bruckner: Symphony 7

One of Kna's greatest performances.

Mike Willis | Trafalgar, Victoria Australia | 02/08/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I have to admit it. Before I heard this recording, I treated Knappertsbusch as something of a curmudgeon in the world of music. Leaden tempos, poorly coordinated playing, and a general sense of lethargy did nothing for me. I remember a Bruckner 3 which was so bad that it proved the maxim that there are no bad orchestras only bad conductors. But then people kept on telling me that this conductor did have his good days and when he was "on" he was "hot". Well, I have to say that this well known recording of the Bruckner 7 with the VPO recorded in 1949 proves that, on his day, Knappertsbusch was every bit as good as his fan club said he was. Here is a performance for all time; a powerful, dynamic(!), well played, emotional ,and above all, wonderfully intuitive performance which will keep you glued to the edge of your seat from the very first note. You will keep on thinking: the old boy did have talent after all - and what a talent! Not that it is without its occasional oddity. Knappertsbusch starts the symphony very slowly (and effectively, I might add), but then, once into the main theme, can be heard thumping his foot to bring the orchestra up to speed - it is one of those Knapptersbusch moments which could end in disaster but on this occasion adds yet another ounce of frisson to an already brooding and powerful performance. The coda to the first movement is wonderfully paced and certainly very powerful. The slow movement seems just right - in terms of tempo, phrasing and dynamics; whilst the third movement brings out Knapptersbusch's innate feeling for Austrian music with its stamping rhythms and solid, "peasant" gate (not unlike Bohm in his DG recording - but so much more natural, the results seemingly more easily obtained). The final movement goes with a bang. Make no mistake, no matter how you feel about old Kna. this is a recording to have. It will astound the sceptics, please the fans, and reassure the believers. Get it."