Customer Reviews

Anton Bruckner: Symphony No. 3 (final 1889 version)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Klaus Tennstedt was stuck in the obscurity of East Germany until 1971, when he came West at the age of 45. It would be another seven years before he made his first commercial recording, of the Mahler First, for EMI. But he had a huge reception in Canada and the U.S. in 1974, and by the time this live concert came along in Munich (1976) he had skyrocketed to fame.

Frankly, I think Tennstedt was a great conductor, so it amazed me that the Gramophone dismissed this recording of the Bruckner Third as 'best forgotten.' Actually, it's robust and thrilling. Tennstedt uses Bruckner's final 1889 version, which purists don't like. But I'm not a purist, and we don't get Bruckner like this very often--heaven-storming, totally committed, without the slighest affectation. Be prepared for explosviely fast tempos in the Scherzo and finale, and a sense of reckless abandon at times. . At 52 min. the timing isn't generous, but the Bavarian RSO plays with vibrancy, and the stereo FM sound is good of its kind. Highly recommended.