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Bruno Walter conducts Bruckner 4 and Wagner

Doug Rea | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada | 04/14/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"At the time of this recording-1940-Bruno Walter was one of the few conductors based in North America that really promoted the music of Anton Bruckner in a strong and important way. (Koussevitzky was also notable) In this recording of the "Romantic"Symphony No. 4 with the NBC Orchestra, you can tell that the conductor was really in touch with the sublime vision in Bruckners' music-to me, there is a kinship with spirituality and nature that is special to this very special composer.
The playing of the orchestra is really inspired and uplifting-how they must have enjoyed playing under Walter.(It shows) Even the potentially hostile critic Olin Downes, who could be quite negative about Bruckner, wrote of it being an uplifting performance. Also, for 1940, the sound quality is not too bad.
After hearing this, I am so greatfull that it exists; there were not too many Bruckner recordings of any sort at the time.
The orchestral excerpts from Wagners' Tristan und Isolde are from 1944 with the New York Philharmonic, and again, sound quality and performance are really something.(Though, I admit, I really bought it for the Symphony)
I definitely recommend this CD-a real slice of musical history!"