Search - Bruckner, Suitner, Berlin Staatskapelle Orch :: Symphony 5

A powerful performance of Bruckner's fifth symphony

Issei Takechi | Saitama, Japan | 04/04/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The review below by Mr. Terasawa obviously refers to Carl Schuricht's live Vienna performance (DG). However, the performance on offer here is Otmar Suitner's studio recording. As I wrote elsewhere, Otmar Suitner, overshadowed by his more media-friendly colleagues such as Kurt Masur or Kurt Sanderling, is seriously underrated in English speaking countries. However, he is greatly revered in Japan as he served as a conductor laureate of NHK Symphony Orchestra, Tokyo, for many years.
Suitner recorded Anton Bruckner's symphonies (1, 4, 5, 7, and 8) late in his career. Of them this recording of the fifth stands out. Suitner goes from strength to strength here as he draws power and grandeur from his excellent Berlin orchestra. The tempi are brisk - particularly so in the second movement which clocks in just over thirteen minutes. The way he accelerates the tempo toward the end of the first movement is quite thrilling. This is quite a wonderful listen overall and can safely be recommended alongside Wand's latest recording (RCA), Horenstein's live performance (BBC Legends), and Asahina Takashi's live performance with New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra (Fontec)."

One of the greatest Bruckner's live performance!

KT | Glenside, PA USA | 05/06/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I still believe that Carl Schuricht (1880-1967) and Hans Knappertsbusch (1888-1965) were the two greatest conductors of Bruckner's symphonies in the 20th century. Both conductors' expression appears quite different; Schuricht constructs it with clarity and purity in precision and light tempo. On the other hand, Knappertsbusch sounds very slow and often heavy but expressing cosmic scale of Bruckner's music. However, both catch the real spirit of Bruckner. It is very fortunate that we can listen Schuricht's live performance of Bruckner's No. 5 with VPO in such a [inexpensive] price! Of course, this is not a stereo record and the quality of sound is not very good. That is why I would not recommend this CD if you were the beginner of listening to the Bruckner's music. But if you have already listened many and loved his symphony, this Schuricht and VPO `s amazingly passionate and spontaneous live performance will make you forget the recording condition. This is the highest state of art in which Schuricht and VPO reached with free spirit, reflecting the cosmic order and divine presence in Bruckner's symphony."