Customer Reviews

Bruckner: Symphony No. 5

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

 

 

First, I must apologize if I gush, but this is one of the few occasions where I feel _compelled_ to do so!

I will quickly summarize the performance of this symphony as "excellent": the playing is a hair below being top-notch, due to a few obvious but forgivable minor flubs (in this symphony, mistakes are easy, just as a matter of endurance), but the tempi (throughout!) are absolutely ideal, and the balances between parts are amazingly-clear. From stem to stern, this recording has no weak link.

(I have 81 distinct recordings of this piece, _not_ including multiple transfers of the same historical performances; thus, I practically have the piece memorized from exposure to many different interpretations. Amongst all of those, I would _gladly_ choose this particular recording -- along with 9 or 10 others -- for both my own pleasure and as a demonstration of the piece to others. Here, of course, is where the discussion pushes this head-and-shoulders above those other performances...)

And this recording has no weak link _specifically_ because of the conductor, Benjamin Zander. I have enjoyed his discussions of Mahler's symphonies very much (my personal favourite being the 4th). His discussion of the Bruckner 5th, however, is of a wholly-grander order, to the point where it honestly rises in importance from a cogent intellectual dissection to a heart-stirring story about the power of music (and art in general). One could not _write_ a better tale than that of Zander's father (a German soldier in WWI) experiencing this music through only the score while fighting at the Russian front. What Zander reveals about his father's experiences at that time is just as compelling as Bruckner's own story. Yet, Zander sacrifices _nothing_ from his explanation of the music itself to present all _three_ elements -- his father, Bruckner, & the music -- in the course of the discussion. In fact, I can confidently say that Zander's grip on this music is complete and confident; his judgment, taste, humility, and feeling falter at not a single point. He may have needed time to arrive, but he _now_ knows his Bruckner almost as well as the man himself. Simply _outstanding_!!!

(Finally, as someone who truly knows & loves the music of Bruckner -- through both good and bad performances -- I would like to extend my deepest thanks to Mr. Zander in this public forum for what he has accomplished with this release. This piece has always needed such champions as you and your father.)

At the time of writing, this album is being offered new for about $16, including both CDs. While I have quibbles about the performance and the discussion, overall I feel the release is very satisfying and enterprising.

To comment on another review of this disc, Zander is not declaring this work to be the greatest symphony ever written. That declaration was made by William Carragan, who worked on one of the posthumous completions of the finale of Bruckner's 9th symphony. Zander considered the Bruckner 5th to be "among a handful of the masterpieces of this genre". Oddly enough, the conductor does not mention which other works made this list. What I found mildly irritating, and this was far more of a nuisance than a grievance, was how much time was spent discussing the conductor's father's time fighting for the Germans in WWI. While on the one hand I can empathize with a person finding outlets for spiritual consolation in times of extreme distress and hardship, and I am glad this symphony was his portal to a light that outshone the darkness of war, on the other hand I have not much empathy for hearing about how difficult things were for the German military. Perhaps since the conductor is speaking about his father, considerable forbearance must be made for this. Notwithstanding that, I admire the soldier's respect for this great work, solely upon examining a study score (the Schalk edition, not Haas!), never having heard the work performed. Having gotten that off my chest, the supplementary discussion CD is otherwise excellent and the cathedral blueprint on two sides is brilliant too. I would love to see more recordings like this, where the conductor walks the listener through the whole work. Zander also deserves credit for his piano playing, and for using a bit of the Waldstein sonata (different player) to illustrate recapitulation. The Adagio commentary includes a performance of its alternate ending, something I had no idea even existed. Zander discussed the spiritual merits of both endings with exemplary scholarship and diplomacy. I was literally laughing out loud during his commentary on the Scherzo, where a brass fanfare is almost portrayed as a musical joke/"Gotcha". It was wonderful to hear his insights in the final movement's unique fugal structure, with plenty of supporting musical excerpts. His analysis of the 4 movements individually and collectively, running about 10 minutes longer than the actual performance, was excellent and would be a suitable disc for explaining the basic structure of a symphony. With respect to Zander's observations about the spiritual nature of the whole work, without delving into any kind of religious evangelizing, I thought he again was superb. He also deserves credit for his phrasing, diction, and imitable manner. In spite of delving into techinical aspects in places, never once did he sound dry or wooden in his commentary. Overall, in spite of feeling at times that I wished he talked a little less about his father and more about Bruckner, I felt this was a revelatory experience.

With respect to the performance, in general I liked the orchestral playing very much, especially the woodwind and tympani. The interpretation has come under considerable criticism elsewhere for being too brisk, with the whole work taking about 69 minutes. I believe according to Telarc's website, Zander was striving for a less shall we say ponderous, more urgent approach to this piece, bringing its lyrical, Schubertian songful qualities. I did not mind this approach at all although I prefer (not by much!) Jochum's DGG recording with the BRSO which is a bit slower. This music is of such richness and genius - as the discussion disc triumphantly demonstrates - that it (IMHO) can take different interpretations. In spite of the adagio lasting only 16 minutes, I found it warm, beautiful, and expressive. The final movement coda is played at the same tempo as the music preceding it, which to some ears may reduce its grandeur, but not mine. With good equipment, the coda is pretty enthralling stuff. This performance will not appeal to everyone. With respect to the sound quality, I found it to be surprisingly mediocre when played on a Sony portable player, but better on my pc with Harmon Kardon speakers, well up to Telarc's standards. Prospective buyers may have to experiment with different playback equipment to get satisfactory results. The string tone, to my ear, sounds a little recessed, perhaps due to the acoustic of the recording venue. This should not deter anyone.

Telarc and Maestro Zander deserve high praise for making this enigmatic Bruckner symphony so approachable. This is my favourite recording of this work, and almost my favourite performance. Those who have other versions should consider acquiring this one, at its budget price, for the sake of the discussion - overall a fantastic (sic) effort. This is my first experience with a Telarc recording with this conductor and orchestra, and as a result I have ordered all of his Mahler CD sets (#1, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 9). These releases have equivalent supplemental commentaries for no extra charge. The album notes, including the names of all of the Philharmonia Orchestra musicians, are very well written too. This album is dedicated to the conductor's father, and I dare say it is a very fine memorial.

After reading everywhere how marvelous this performance was, imagine my frustration of waiting more than six months and being unable to find an SACD pressing available for purchase, be it from Amazon and elsewhere where it was back-listed and expected soon.

Finally, I could take it no longer, and I bought a "normal" pressing which to my chagrin proved to be a perfectly respectable, but not extraordinary, performance of this marvelous work. For the life of me, I could not understand what had caused the critical excitement many months before....

But completely unexpected one day, the mailman showed up with a package from England: a long forgotten order of this Zander performance of Bruckner's Symphony No.5 in SACD. With very little initial excitement indeed, I put it on the player, but I was soon transported into wonderment as Bruckner's architecture clicked and came to life as never before, and I realize how important it had been to wait for SACD to bring its magic to bring the music to life.

It is nothing less than a crime to deny music lovers this seasoning to help bring some music to life.....

Please see the reviews for the hybrid SACD release of this recording. I don't understand Telarc's marketing strategy regarding the availability of both a CD-only and a hybrid-SACD for virtually (if not exactly -- that depends upon the retailer) the same price. In a forum such as this, it often means that one of these will be listed without the recommendations given the other. Except for this marketing oddity, Zander's Bruckner 5th is a keeper!!!

The short story here is of an eloquent lecture attached to a performance that can't match it. In the bonus CD Zander wants to convince us tat the Bruckner fifth is not only the composer's greatest symphony but also (perhaps) the greatest creation in symphonic music. To that end, Zander creates a double narrative, weaving his father's extraordinary letters from the German trenches on the Russian front in 1918 with his own poetic sense of theBruckner Fifth being constructed like the ground plan of a cathedral. His father solaced is soul by reading a pocket score of the symphony -- alternating with Shakespeare -- and although not a professional musician, Zander Sr. could hear the music in his head merely by reading the notes. Zander Jr. is almost as miraculous in his ability to attach emotions to Bruckner's very abstract musical idiom, and while you are listening to the samples Zander provides, it's easy to fall under the spell of regarding the Fifth not as a diffuse, sprawling work but as the product of a single-minded genius.

Sad to say, however, the recorded performance with the Philharmonia does't capture the same magic. It feels at times like an illustration for the lecture, a careful dissection of each episode so that it fits into the required scheme. I've heard Zander sounding inspired when he leads his own semi-pro Boston Philharmonic, but for some reason almost all of his recordings for Telarc are stiff. There's no doubt that the Philharmonia is a great orchestra, so either thee isn't enough rehearsal time, the conductor cannot communicate his intentions, or there is some slip between tongue and baton. The overall impression here is of a fairly blank, literal reading without personality or point of view. The execution at times isn't really first-rate, either. I don't mean to imply that Zander sinks to amateurishness, but real eloquence an command are absent. The good news is that one can buy this twofer on the used market for such a low price that it's justified by the superb lecture alone.

I have several recordings of Zander with the philharmonia, Mahlers 1, 5, and this one and I am extremely imoressed with the recording quality, which to me is of utmost importance. The instruments are so clear, and this is another aspect that reveals Zander's conducting style. Cant wait to hear this CD in a top quality speaker system...when I can afford one!