Bruckner - Symphony 4 [Dohnanyi-The Cleveland Orchestra]
I really like this version of Bruckner's Fourth, Dohnanyi has a certain way with things, i love his Mahler Fifth, it's my favourite interpretation, maybe he will turn out to be a real favourite among Conductors, i haven't played this a great deal, certainly i played it a couple of times in 2008, but since i haven't played it recently, it feels like a new experience, as if i'm giving it its first spin, also Bruckner's Fourth is the Symphony i have the most versions of [i believe it's now 8], probably the easiest Symphony to like of Bruckner's, the architecture of this Symphony is just wonderful.
Christoph Von Dohnanyi is German, he is now 83, he recorded this work in 1989, the front cover photograph [by Phil Sayer] is a sublime portrait, Dohnanyi leaning against a wall, sunlight falling on the wall beside him, or more likely the wall being glossy acts as a kind of mirror, therefore it's a reflection of the lighted windows, either way it's a strong visual statement, the orange / yellow glow brings a sense of sunset / nostalgia to the front booklet, i love this portrait.
Each of the four movements can be looked at as a whole, not merely four separate episodes, it was certainly harder to pick a clear cut favourite this time, so like yesterdays Bruckner, i would like to choose the last movement to expound my thoughts on, and again it's the longest movement of the four [nearly 20 minutes], it's in E Flat Major, the first and last movements are like equal entities, similar to each other, it starts with a quiet throbbing on basses, and again Bruckner's beloved horns, have a sense of ominousness [0:00-1:11], which builds up and up, and the higher brass bring things to a natural culmination, yes you just know there's going to be one of Bruckner's brass explosions of dark foreboding, but it's a little later that we get a more noble and triumphant explosion / fanfare [2:20+], Bruckner uses a general build up of ideas and tread, almost a carousel of different ideas on a rotation basis, i like the busy loud brass five minutes in [5:10-6:05], angry at times, and two sides of the brass competing each other, i guess it's the fortes i like the most, there's almost a return to the opening throb [6:59+], and yes it's the strings that have that sense of ominous build up, and that loud busy brass section returns to disturb / excite us again [10:16-11:34], turning from anger into supreme majesty, towards the end we have the start of the coda [16:46+], long and thoughtful in its opening horn solo, but of course again a slow build up with trumpet fanfares working their way in [17:55+], you can see how Bruckner is going to turn this into a magical triumphant apotheosis [19:00-19:23], that ends abruptly, a lovely movement of ideas to feast your ears on.
Here's Dohnanyi conducting the Fourth Symphony on YouTube, the fourth movement starts at 45:25.
Here's Dohnanyi conducting the Fourth Symphony on YouTube, the fourth movement starts at 45:25.
