This Symphony seems to be getting some serious exposure in my life, it was only last week i was playing Harnoncourt's version, and even this performance by Wand i played just over 6 months ago [30th November 2011], but it's great to have a nice intense experience with something you love, it's only been just over a week since the Harnoncourt listening [10th June 2012], and there i felt that the thing was low powered, especially in the first movement, well this Wand version was certainly different, i really felt connected, and again it had a tendency to get better the longer it went on [is this a me thing?], it's strange you can have a completely different experience with the same work.
Gunter Wand was born in Germany in 1912, and died just over 10 years ago, he became a Bruckner specialist in his later years, recording several versions of each Symphony, he recorded these discs in 1979, like i've said before, the front cover photograph is a beaut, reminds me of the bayous of Louisiana, but it's the black background which brings out the colour of the picture, and the white edged box with the lettering in, nicely placed, it all adds up to the whole, and Bruckner's signature splashed across the bottom, a great 'fatbox' set to own, and really rare now.
Well again it just has to be the third movement Adagio as the spiritual centre of this Symphony, however there were all sorts of bits throughout the Symphony in all the movements that impressed me, and i would like to talk about a few of these today,
Movement 1 [13:28-14:13] there's a nice apotheosis towards the end, it builds up and up, until the brass fanfares blare out their noise, along with lots of timpani rolls, a great thrilling moment.
Movement 2 [14:21-14:26] again near the end of the movement, where the horns echo the brass, nice and deep, the rest of the orchestra seem to quieten down to hear the lowing of the horns, it's at this moment that i noticed it, but of course it permeates throughout the whole movement, it's one to catch by listening carefully, otherwise you could miss it.
Movement 3 [23:41+] the coda, ah yes!, one of the most gut wrenching of all the things Bruckner ever did, the horns turn into serenader's and the strings interweave another melody to make something exquisite, wow! does that get me every time, Bruckner sure knows how to tug the heartstrings.
Movement 4 [6:13-6:54] out of nowhere, a startling brass fanfare blast, while the timpani create a marching band scenario, it's loud and boisterous, and just comes and goes from 'somewhere else', i love it!, Bruckner could have shown Sousa how it's really done.
Movement 4 [15:33-15:47] a nice brass resolution, and it's great to hear the low and high brass split into two terraces, the trumpets / trombones leading at the start of the bar, and the horns / tubas in reply at the end of the bar, roughly going down the scale, it's a nice moment.
Movement 1 [13:28-14:13] there's a nice apotheosis towards the end, it builds up and up, until the brass fanfares blare out their noise, along with lots of timpani rolls, a great thrilling moment.
Movement 2 [14:21-14:26] again near the end of the movement, where the horns echo the brass, nice and deep, the rest of the orchestra seem to quieten down to hear the lowing of the horns, it's at this moment that i noticed it, but of course it permeates throughout the whole movement, it's one to catch by listening carefully, otherwise you could miss it.
Movement 3 [23:41+] the coda, ah yes!, one of the most gut wrenching of all the things Bruckner ever did, the horns turn into serenader's and the strings interweave another melody to make something exquisite, wow! does that get me every time, Bruckner sure knows how to tug the heartstrings.
Movement 4 [6:13-6:54] out of nowhere, a startling brass fanfare blast, while the timpani create a marching band scenario, it's loud and boisterous, and just comes and goes from 'somewhere else', i love it!, Bruckner could have shown Sousa how it's really done.
Movement 4 [15:33-15:47] a nice brass resolution, and it's great to hear the low and high brass split into two terraces, the trumpets / trombones leading at the start of the bar, and the horns / tubas in reply at the end of the bar, roughly going down the scale, it's a nice moment.
Here's Herbert Von Karajan conducting the third movement Adagio on YouTube.
