Bruckner Symphony No.5(last movement) - 'Third Reich' version

This is how the Third Reich wanted Bruckner to sound......with clashing cymbals and triangle! What a laugh! This is one of his symphonies that never suffered from revision, that is until the Nazi's got their rotten hands on it. Don't even bother trying to purchase this atrocious recording!! As great as Hans Knappertsbusch was a conductor(especially with the operas of Richard Wagner......his "Parsifal" was beyond reproach, perhaps even divinely inspired), he prefered the 'Nazi' versions of Bruckner's symphonies......tragic and disgusting!

Discover and laugh!

Bruckner Symphony No.5(last movement) - original version

Bruckner Symphony No. 4(last movement) - 1878 version

I just found the 1878 version of the Fourth known as the 'Volksfest' movement on YouTube. Thematically it is closer to the 1880 version than to the earlier 1874 original version. This version of the last movement can be purchsed on the Naxos label coupled with Symphony No.00(double zero....his actual 'first' symphony) conducted by Georg Tintner. As I said, in my previous post, buying Bruckner's symphonies can be difficult if you don't know which version is which!

BE AMAZED!

Bruckner Symphony No.4(last movement) - 1874 version

This is a recording of Bruckner's original vision for his Fourth Symphony. After completing this work in 1874, he felt at odds with it and as early as 1878 he proceeded to revise the whole work. The third movement in the 1874 version was entirely scraped and a whole new movement was written. On advise from his students and friends Bruckner often re-worked his symphonies. The most notable re-workings were done on the First, Second, Third, Fourth and Eighth Symphonies. There are so many versions especially of the Third and Fourth, that just trying to marry a score with the right recording is practically impossible. Even Hitler had his hands in having all of the symphonies re-scored to bring out the majesty of the Third Reich. The 'original' version of the Third is almost 30 minutes longer than the version that we hear in the concert halls today.

The First Symphony has two versions: one that is known as the 'Linz' version(original) and the much later 'Vienna' version(much beefed up orchestration). The recordings to purchase, if you want to hear some of these 'original' versions, can be found on the Naxos label. Georg Tintner did much to preserve Bruckner's original intentions. As in the case of his recording of the Fourth, he stuck with the version(1880) that is heard in the concert halls. For a great reference recording of the 1874 version, I heartily recommend the Sony recording with Kent Nagano conducting the Bavarian State Orchestra.....quite spectacular! If you know this work, the 1874 version will really surprise you! If you don't know either versions, I suggest starting with the 1880 version(everybody records this one). When purchasing the above mentioned symphonies, please take care to get the "right" ones that are performed in the concert halls.

Although this post is only a fragment from the last movement, try to compare it with my next post. Be prepared to be surprised!

Discover and be amazed!

Bruckner Symphony No.4(last movement) - 1880 version

The Mahler Third

This clip is the latter half of the third movement from Mahler's Third Symphony....this is one of my favourite movements that he ever wrote. Great fun!

And still another Mahler favourite

Another Mahler favourite

Favourites from Mahler's "Des Knaben Wunderhorn"

Happy belated Birthday Herr Mahler!

It has been so hot recently and I also forgot this past Wednesday to post a commemoration on the 150th birthday of one of my very favourite composers of all time...Gustav Mahler!

Gustav Mahler's 150th Birthday year!

This year we celebrate and commemorate Gustav Mahler's 150th Birthday! His actual birth date is July 7, 1860. It pains us that he did not live longer. Mahlerites the world over appreciate the legacy he did leave for us, in his glorious symphonies and songs! Thank-you Herr Mahler for everything you have given us and we will remember you with love in this celebratory birthday year! Happy Birthday, where ever you are!

Music by a twenty year old Mahler!

An amazing work for a twenty year old to compose in 1880. I fear twenty years old kids today can barely keep their pants up or tie their shoes! This incredible work has never failed to amaze me....Mahler was a genius! I am and always will remain a Mahlerite! Just bought a recording of this conducted by my new favourite Mahler conductor, Riccardo Chailly. The two disc album also contains the song cycles: "Kindertotenlieder", "Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen" and the sumptuous "Ruekert Lieder", wonderfully sung by Brigitte Fassbaender. Get the album(on the Decca label), it is astonishing!

Des Knaben Wunderhorn

The other day I bought the complete Symphonies of Gustav Mahler conducted by Riccardo Chailly at the unbelievable price of $48.45! Quite extraordinary recordings as in all my years of loving these masterpieces, I have never heard them so sonically spectacular! Decca must be very proud of these performances. I have known Mahler's Symphonies for over fourty years and have heard many a conductor's recording. You name it, I've probably heard it. My favorite conductors include Tennstedt, Bernstein, Haitink, Sinopoli and more recently Boulez. Now I can include Chailly! I also bought "Des Knaben Wunderhorn" recorded on Decca with Chailly and Barbara Bonney and Matthias Goerne. Best recording ever....just don't throw away the Bernstein/Ludwig/Berry performance as it is also quite excellent! Overall the sound quality and interpretations are superior to most versions currently available.

However as regards the Third Symphony Chailly does NOT displace the Boulez recording which is totally beyond reproach.

My goodness....I think I've finally become a Mahler fanatic!

A "Das Lied von der Erde" for me..... finally!

In a previous post I had mentioned that I purchased a chamber version of Mahler's masterpiece. The recording was made by Harmonia Mundi and features Phillippe Herreweghe conducting the Ensemble Musique Oblique with Birgit Remmert and Hans Peter Blochwitz. In all the 35 years I have known this work, I've finally found a recording that pleases me! Especially Mr. Blochwitz's(tenor) performance, as no singer on any recording has ever satisfied me. This version and recording is simply the best I have ever heard by anyone and in my opinion, one of the best Mahler recordings EVER!

The recording is on YouTube but I am unable to post this on my blog! Please investigate and discover the revealed treasures in this version!

The Song of the Earth

Having recently purchased a recording of Mahler's "Das Lied von der Erde" in the chamber version made by Schoenberg/Riehn, I have discovered that I now prefer it to the full orchestral version. It would seem that in the chamber version the music and words seem to benefit from clearer textures that the orchestral version, with it's scoring for a large ensemble, simply "blur".

Discover and Enjoy!

Do you love Beauty?

Mahler's "Rueckert Lieder" includes this marvelously wonderful "Lied"(song) call "Liebst du um Schoenheit?"(Do you love Beauty?). The song is one of Mahler's most memorable and beautiful!

Mahler in Warsaw!

The Naxos recording of the monumental Eighth Symphony by Herr Mahler is an absolute MUST hear! It is the best I have ever heard in the 40 years I have known and loved this work! The recording lets you hear every sound and voice as clearly as if you were there. There are moments in this recording where I can truthfully say I have NEVER heard, in any other performance, everything the Master put into his masterpiece. Kudos and bravos to Naxos and to one of the greatest conductors of our time: Antoni Wit. Another outstanding recording conducted by Maestro Wit is Penderecki's Seventh Symphony on the Naxos label. This one will blow you away.....sonically unbelievable!! I have always admired Maestro Wit, especially for his recording of Bedrich Smetana's "Ma Vlast". This is the only recording that EVER satisfied me, and I have heard them all! Naxos is to be praised for their determination to bring to the world the best artists and their recorded performances!

Finally a Mahler third!

I have never liked Mahler's Symphony no. 3 mostly due to lousy interpretations and/or recordings. I recently bought a used copy of Pierre Boulez conducting this great masterpiece with the great Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, on the Deutsche Grammophon label. Absolutely awesome recording and flawless interpretation!! Now I have rekindled a long overdue(over 35 years) love for this work. Bravo Maestro!

Mahler rocks!!

Autumnal dreams

This movement from "Das Lied von der Erde" has always hypnotized me! This is immortal music from Herr Mahler. I have heard many a singer sing this(Janet Baker, Christa Ludwig...etc), however Jessye Norman's is the finest rendition ever(in my opinion).

Listen and enjoy this heavenly music!

A must hear for all Mahler enthusiasts!

There are moments in this work that sound a great deal like Mahler but in the first movement I notice a definite Brucknerian influence. What is amazing is that Mahler may have been influenced by this work. It does NOT decrease the originality of Mahler's genius. It does define the link between Bruckner and Mahler and yet Rott still presents new original ideas. If the first movement is Bruckner and the third is Mahler, the whole Symphony is an original creation of a remarkable young man. The great tragedy is that he died too soon to make his mark on the world! Take some time to hear the whole work. Quite amazing!

Discover and ENJOY!