Review of Solti Bruckner and Stravinsky DVD

Anton Bruckner, Symphony No. 3 (1877 edition)

Igor Stravinsky: Symphony in Three Movements

Georg Solti

Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra

Arthaus Musik 100 321 (DVD)

Georg Solti’s conducting style is well showcased in this DVD recording of two 1993 concerts from the Philharmonie im Gasteig in Munich. The pairing is somewhat unusual. Stravinsky and Bruckner is not a regular combination. But it works well. The 81-year old conductor is in characteristically vigorous form and both pieces lend themselves to his forceful approach. 

The Third is Bruckner’s most Wagnerian (some would say: bombastic) symphony. Solti gives a driving performance that brings out the lyrical and dancing sections while keeping the overall architecture clearly in view. Both the first movement (Mehr lansam, misterioso) and the final Allegro demonstrate Solti’s ability to bring out the contrasts in Bruckner, particularly in the schizophrenic last movement that oscillates between a polka and a funeral march. The driving scherzo is terrific.

The virtues of Solti’s Bruckner conducting are very clear in the  Adagio, where the pace and momentum are finely judged to let the lyricism of the music come through. At the same time, though, Solti is not at the mystical end of Bruckner conducting and some listeners will think that there are depths to the music that he does not reach. I am sympathetic to that view, but still relish the energy and drive that Solti brings.

Energy and drive are also present in the Stravinsky, which was the first piece Stravinsky wrote after emigrating to the US. Here the videography helps the listener appreciate some of the nuances of the scoring (whereas in the Bruckner the cameras add relatively little). There is not much to be gained from the liner notes, however. As far as I can see, this is a minimally repackaged pair of TV broadcasts. At least, the sound quality is acceptable.

This DVD is certainly recommended for Solti enthusiasts. For a more general audience, it provides a distinctive (and very worthwhile) interpretation of Bruckner 3, as well as exposure to a Stravinsky piece that is not as frequently heard as it should be.

Thielemann Bruckner 4 in the Digital Concert Hall

The Berlin Philharmonic Digital Concert Hall has 14 Bruckner concert recordings, including two by Christian Thielemann - an 8th from 2008 and a 4th from March 2012. Both are recommended. The last movement of the 4th is particularly fine. Details of that concert are here. And here is an extract uploaded (legally!) to YouTube.

Solti conducts Bruckner and Stravinsky

I've been listening to a review copy of this Arthaus DVD. The main item is a very good performance of Bruckner 3 by the Bavarian Radio Symphony under George Solti, dating from 1993. The Stravinsky is an unusual pairing, but works well. More to follow when I've written up my notes.

Perlemuter and Nikolayeva from BBC legends

The BBC seems to have an inexhaustible supply of historical recordings. These two discs are well worth buying. Vlado Perlemuter, born of Polish parents in what is now Estonia, is probably best known as a Chopin interpreter and this set of performances showcases his deep understanding of Chopin. The highlight of this disc is a sinewy performance of the Preludes from 1972, which brings out the strength of Chopin's lyricism without being heavy-handed. The disc also contains a 1964 performance of the 3rd piano sonata , the Scherzo no. 4 and the op. 45 prelude.
 
Tatiana Nikolayeva is best known for her performances of Bach and Shostakovich (who wrote his preludes for her). These performances from 1991 and 1993 reveal her strength as a Beethoven and Schubert interpreter. The performance of the D960 piano sonata in B flat major is particularly fine. She brings out the structure and internal tensions of the piece without the sturm und drang of many other interpretations (including her compatriot Richter). Probably not a benchmark recording, but well worth listening to.

Bruckner symphonies in Claudio Abbado: The Symphony Edition

This 41 CD collection of Abbado recordings contains five live performances of Bruckner symphonies – four re-releases and one recording being released for the first time. The new recording is the First Symphony in the 189-/91 Vienna edition, recorded live with the Lucerne Festival Orchestra in August 2012. It is one of the highlights of the mini-set, the other being a benchmark performance of the Ninth (from 1996 with the Vienna Philharmonic). The Ninth strikes a wonderful balance between power and lyricism, with the beautiful sound of the Vienna Philharmonic harnessed to a deep vision of Bruckner's final symphony. The other three performances are much less satisfying, unfortunately. Neither the Fourth, the Fifth, nor the Seventh really convince. The sound is always polished and Abbado is clearly at home in the score. But the performances lack the depth and intensity that we find in some of Abbado's more recent performances with the Lucerne Festival Orchestra (e.g. this recording of the Fifth from 2011).

The Klemperer Legacy: Concertos

More excellent value from EMI in their Klemperer Legacy series. This set contains some old warhorses (Another Schumann Piano Concerto, anyone? Perhaps a Beethoven Violin Concerto?), but the performances are characteristically powerful. For me the highlight is the 1967 recording of Mozart's C major Piano Concerto (K503), with Daniel Barenboim at the keyboard. This was their first encounter – Barenboim was 25 and Klemperer 82. That led quickly into a justly famous complete cycle of Beethoven concertos, also included here. The set is rounded out by Liszt's Piano Concerto No. 1 (Annie Fischer) and Brahm's Violin Concerto (David Oistrakh), together with a splendid recording of the Mozart's Horn Concertos with Alan Civil as the soloist. Not much new repertoire here - but a good opportunity to enjoy Klemper's powerful and structurally compelling interpretations.