Search - Bruckner, Jocum :: Symphonies

Unusual (High Class) Bruckner

Thomas F. Bertonneau | Oswego, NY United States | 10/12/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"What good is a review three years tardy? Better late than never. The point is that this highly unusual set of Bruckner symphonies from Tahra Productions includes recordings made during the war-years, under the baton of Bruckner-specialist Hans-Georg (1909-1970) Jochum, with the Bruckner Orchestra Linz, an ensemble formed specifically to represent the Austrian master in concert hall and over radio. Symphonies Nos. 2 and 5, then, comes from Reichs Rundfunk Gesellschaft archives (magnetic tape recordings) and date from 1944. Hans-Georg (brother of Eugen) led these performances, with his Linz endemble, in Vienna. The other Hans-Georg recordings in the set are No. 1 (RIAS Orchestra, Berlin, 1956), No. 3 (Stuttgart Symphony, 1964, and No. 9 (RIAS Orchestra, berlin, 1954). From brother Eugen (1902-1987) we have No. 4 (1975), No. 6 (1980), No. 7 (1980), and No. 8 (1984), all with the Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam. Hans-Georg's recordings are mono, Eugen's (rich Phillips) stereo. Hans-Georg takes No. 1 at a fairly rapid clip, with good sound. His readings of Nos. 2 and 5 are fairly slow (although each fits on a single disc). Both are stunning for the same reason: The audacity of the pauses that Hans-Georg observes in his interpretation of these scores. Both No. 2 and No. 3 are monumental symphonies; the Bruckner Orchestra Linz was a top-notch ensemble that STUDIED this music and knew it profoundly. Hans-Georg's No. 3 and No. 9 are competent, but not stellar. Eugen's contributions are as good as if not better than his more familiar traversal of this repertory for DG and EMI. This will not be anyone's FIRST Bruckner set, but for committed Brucknerians who already own multiple versions of each symphony, this bears serious consideration. The notes are exceptionally fine and the packaging is unusual. The nine discs each come in a separate slick-carboard slip-cover and these, along with the booklet, come in a reasonable lacquered carboard box. Tahra cannot have produced very many of these sets. If Amazon still has some in stock, don't hesitate. get one before they're all gone."