Bruckner: Symphony No5, WAB105; Symphony in A No6, WAB106

On this CD:

1. Symphony No. 5 in B flat (Tragic; Church of Faith; Pizzicato) (Original version; Schalk version), WAB 105
Composed by Anton Bruckner
Performed by Dresden Staatskapelle
Conducted by Eugen Jochum

2. Symphony No. 6 in A major (Philosophic) (Original version; Mahler version), WAB 106
Composed by Anton Bruckner
Performed by Dresden Staatskapelle
Conducted by Eugen Jochum

Tracks:

Sym No.5 In B Flat: I. Intro (Adagio-Allegro)
Sym No.5 In B Flat: II. Adagio-Schr Langsam
Sym No.5 In B Flat: III. Scherzo (Molto Vivace-Schnell)
Sym No.5 In B Flat: IV. Finale (Allegro Moderato)

Tracks:

Sym No.6 In A: I. Maestoso
Sym No.6 In A: II. Adagio (Schr Feierlich)
Sym No.6 In A: III. Scherzo (Nicht Schnell)-Trio (Langsam)
Sym No.6 In A: IV. Finale (Bewegt, Doch Nicht Zu Schnell)

Customer Reviews:

Good, authoritative Bruckner under Eugen Jochum.......2004-09-11

Eugen Jochum's vision of Anton Bruckner is uniquely Romantic and spontaneous-sounding, and one can sample his style in these massive works with this two-disc set coupling Jochum's EMI performances of Bruckner's Fifth and Sixth Symphonies with the Staatskapelle Dresden.

They are both good performances. This performance of the Fifth is by turns broadly dramatic yet lyrical (the well-done second movement Adagio is a good case in point, especially at its initial grave tempo), and it fully conveys Jochum's fondness for this particular work. I think Jochum's unmarked tempo change at the very end of the work---as the glorious brass chorale approaches---is too jarring to be totally effective; otherwise most of Jochum's subjective manipulations of tempo and dynamics come off convincingly, even adding to the work's daring and drama. The Staatskapelle Dresden play with power and bite, although without quite the magical clarity they bring to the same piece in a much more recent DG recording under the late Giuseppe Sinopoli. Still, if the playing is not note-perfect, the spirit of the score comes over forcefully, and that is what really matters. In short, this is a very good performance that should convince most listeners of the greatness of this particular symphony.

Jochum's performance of the underrated Sixth Symphony should also do the same. I admittedly do not listen to this piece as much as I do his Fourth, Fifth, or Eighth Symphonies, but I was once again struck by Bruckner's sheer joyfulness and confidence as I listened to this performance. The second movement Adagio is the high point: spiritually moving at a very slow tempo, with the Staatskapelle Dresden strings playing radiantly in its uplifting second subject. The other three movements are reasonably well-done, even if I think they could be taken a little slower and steadier (the first movement, for example is marked "Maestoso", but majesty is not what we sense in Jochum's fairly quick opening tempo). Still, this is overall a compelling performance of a symphony that is not played very often but should at least be recognized for the small masterpiece that it is.

Eugen Jochum was a man who felt a special affinity for the works of Anton Bruckner, and these two performances dazzlingly display that special bond he felt, providing committed performances that fully realize his unique but authoritative vision of these two symphonic masterpieces. Recommended.

Aggressive!.......2002-05-08

This is as pumped as I would ever want to hear this symphony, but at times I like it this way. I own and like six 5th's so I can pick the one for my moods.

Music Review:

Music Review

music review

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Joaquin Turina: Piano Trio No. 1 Op. 35 & Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Trio in E flat major Op. 70 No. 2

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