Bruckner From the Archives, Vol. 4 Offers Stylistic Contrasts
By Ralph Graves
The fourth volume of this extraordinary series presents Burckner’s Fifth Symphony. It also includes two works for string quintet. Every recording receives its first release here.
As with the previous volumes, the source recordings come from John F. Berky. Berky is the Executive Secretary for the Anton Bruckner Society of America. Over 12,000 Bruckner recordings are in their archives. The selections here aren’t just rare recordings. They’re recordings that provide insight in the Bruckner and his interpreters.
Christoph von Dohnanyi conducts the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra in a 1963 aircheck. Dohnanyi was only 34 years old, and already creating a sensation. He also was of the generation immediately after the Romantics.
His approach to Bruckner is straightforward and business-like. His goal was to be a transparent conduit between the composer and the audience. It’s an exciting performance. And it’s one I think most current listeners would be comfortable with.
The string quintet performances, on the other hand, are purely Romantic. The Vienna Konzerthouse Quartett (and violist Ferdinand Stangler), were members of the Vienna Philharmonic. These artists were the last generation to play under the Romantic Era conductors.
This is old-school string technique — overripe portmantos, full-bodied dynamics, and emotive phrasing. All harkening back to the glories of Old Vienna. This was the performance style Bruckner most likely imagined for these works. And they are gorgeous.
Lani Spahr’s superb restorations do much service to the music. He brings out the inherent qualities of these recordings. And he does so without unnaturally “enhancing the sound.”
Another fine addition to this series.
Anton Bruckner: From the Archives, Volume 4
Symphony No. 5 in B-flat major
Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra; Christoph von Dohnanyi, conductor
String Quintet in F major; Intermezzo for String Quintet
Vienna Konzerthaous Quartet with Ferdinand Stangler, second viola
SOMM Recordings, Ariadne 5031-2
2 CD Set
