Search - Barenboim, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra :: Bruckner: Symphony No. 9

Barenboim summons the ghost of Furtwangler yet again

dv_forever | Michigan, USA | 08/08/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Daniel Barenboim is not anywhere near to being a great conductor but he can certainly imitate one by the name of Wilhelm Furtwangler. In classic Furtwangler mode, Barenboim takes on one of Bruckner's greatest symphonies. To aid Barenboim on his journey, he brings along possibly the finest orchestral apparatus known to man, the Berlin Philharmonic.



Comparing Barenboim to Furtwangler's wartime version on which Barenboim obviously bases his interpretation, we hear some clear differences. Barenboim is not a spiritual conductor and he does not handle the 'mysterioso' qualities of this music the way Furtwangler, Karajan and Giulini have done. Barenboim's version is not one of great resignation, great mystery or great insight but there is some great power to be heard during the big tuttis. Sure, I love to hear Furtwangler in this music, but compare his old mono sound to the thundering beast Barenboim unleashes in full digital audio here. The final climax during the third movement is especially apocalyptic. The dissipation and the ending is definitely not handled as well as say by Giulini.



In the end, a very powerful version but lacking some of the other elements that make up the Brucknerian universe. It's still a very good performance and an example of where I've actually liked listening to Barenboim! That's very rare indeed."