Customer Reviews

Eugen Jochum & Bruckner's 5th Symphony

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It is no secret that out of all of Bruckner's symphonies, the Fifth remained the dearest to Eugen Jochum's heart and soul. On special and important occasions, such as his last live performance with the Concertgebouw Orchestra, Jochum, by tradition, included Bruckner's Fifth in his programmes.

Jochum's approach to Bruckner's Fifth Symphony was never really altered much, especially in his highly acclaimed 1964 Phillip recording (nla) of the work with the same Concertgebouw Orchestra and even in the 1980 recording with Statskapelle Dresden (EMI). Jochum readings are consistently flexible, passionate but with no exaggeration, a cathedral like grandeur and spirituality. Above all conductors, with some exceptions to Bohm, Wand, Baremboim, Solti, Haitink & Herbert von Karajan, there was truly a bond-a kinship between Jochum and Bruckner, as if they went through much of the same paths (they were both Catholic).

Jochum's last performance with the Concertgebouw (December 4th, 1986), placed a glorious crown on the conductor's dedication towards Bruckner and on the conductor's illustrious and influential career. The Concertgebouw Orchestra gave altogether a fully coherent and passionate performance of the work. The strings, especially, were with bloom, valiance, and brillance, the brass and woodwinds were crisp, responsive, alert, and ultimated enthused. The strings of the Staatskapelle Dresden have more of the richness and blend than do the Concertgebouw. But the Concertgebouw were full-blooded and involving that no one needs apology for and undoubtedly the orchestra demonstrated their admiration towards Bruckner and even Jochum, whose association with the Concertgebouw since 1941 was all but dismissive. In fact, Jochum was so pleased with the performance of the Concertgebouw that he performed the finale again, as an encore (unfortunately omitted in the Tahra 2CD set re-issue). The Tahra CD transfer was well done and gave us a confirmation of how great and important Jochum was to music as among the giants of 20th Century's conductors. One final note: Tahra included Jochum's enterprising and informative essay on the art of interpreting Bruckner. My hope is that the Tahra reissue remains undeleted.

Warmly recommended.

This is one of the greatest performances ever recorded. This from a man who was just short of 85 and was to die in 3 months and knew this was a farwell concert. The power and energy are tremendous. I know a friend who heard this one Sunday afternoon playing in another part of the house and felt that it was God calling to her. There is something so primal and elemental that no one could fail to be deeply moved. This is simply the greatest recorded performance there may ever have been!!

This recording, albeit Jochum's last, is perhaps the finest example of his complete command of a score. The recorded sound is amazing and the Concertgebouw rise to the occasion. I would not hesitate to say that this is the best recorded version of this symphony.

I agree with several of the other reviewers that this recording may, very simply, have no peer. The quality of the sound is extremely good, and the orchestra is able to play with strength and confidence throughout. These, however, would not set the recording apart, for the same can be said, I feel, about Barenboim's recording of the 5th. Where Jochum shines brilliantly is in his pacing of the work, and it is the PACING in Bruckner that is so vitally important. This is especially true in the 5th where Bruckner seems to fill the score with measure after measure of complete silence. What is a conductor to do with such silence? How to create a feeling of forward impetus when these sonic gaps continue to break up the flow? Only conductors like Furtwangler and Jochum--sometimes von Karajan--have the understanding of the large-scale structure of the work necessary to know how to voice those silences. In Jochum's hands, silence is filled with energy. There is never a sense of 'regretting all those silly pauses' that one hears in the recordings of lesser conductors. The piece under Jochum is one vision; it becomes a single entity in this recording and the memory of it seems a unified experience. I think most Bruckner initiates will concur.

Over 35 years I've heard many Bruckner 5's, recorded and live, including one conducted by (the sadly late) Gunther Wand at the Proms in London with the BBC Symphony Orchestra which was simply marvellous. I've searched for many years for a recorded Bruckner 5 which I can listen to with pleasure both as an interpretation and also as pleasant sound. Many conductors simply fall short - the most common sin is to tamper with the music's all-important pulse. In contrast the late Eugen Jochum knows exactly how to get an orchestra to phrase naturally and flexibly without destroying that sense of "line". Miraculously the playing is out of this world and the recording is fully worthy of an incandescant performance.

It seems that some of the best Bruckner recordings are hard to find. This is certainly one of the best recordings of Bruckner 5. It is certainly very different from the Welser-Most recording (EMI - nla), but is similar to the Karajan recording on DG (only available as a complete set of symphonies). Both of these are also great recordings.

This recording is not available any more, but it has been reissued on Tahra 440 (with symphonies 4 and 6). This set doesn't seem to be widely available (not sold by Amazon yet), but I was able to source it from HMV in Japan.

The performance is very good, with very strong playing by the brass in the finale. The tempos are on the slow side, but Jochum pulls it off. The live sound quality is quite good, but not wonderful.

Without a doubt, this is an unbelievably powerful performance of Bruckner's 5th. I don't have much to add to the other glowing reviews here but will add that, on the occasion this was recorded in 1986, Maestro Jochum was SO pleased with the Concertgebouw's playing that he asked them to repeat the symphony's finale as an encore!!! As a brass player, I couldn't imagine doing this after a Bruckner 5 but perhaps with the eminent octogenarian Maestro Jochum at the podium, I would do all I could to give him the encore he asked for!

I agree with every other reviewer here. This is hands-down the finest performance and interpretation of Bruckner's magnificent 5th symphony. The playing of the Concergebouw is indescribably outstanding--tone, balance, ensemble, intonation, richness, etc. The sound is excellent. Why this recording is not still in release is hard to understand. Bruckner's 5th symphony is one of the most difficult to "get" of his entire body of work. But Jochum's performance here, taken from a live concert just months before he died, is the definitive statement of a great conductor, at the peak of his powers, leading the orchestra in the single piece of music that meant more to him than any other. It all comes together so magnificently here, and the other reviewers are not unjustified in considering this a candidate for the greatest recording ever. I feel so lucky to have it.