Composer: Anton Bruckner
Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Conductor: Nikolaus Harnoncourt
Audio CD
SPARS Code: DDD
Number of Discs: 1
Format: APE (image+cue)
Label: Teldec
Size: 256 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
01. Allegro Moderato
02. Adagio: Sehr Feierlich Und Sehr Langsam
03. Scherzo: Sehr Schnell – Trio: Etwas Langsamer
04. Finale: Bewegt, Doch Nicht Schnell
Unexpected Warmth
Sometimes interesting things happen when “intense” conductors are paired up with the mellow Vienna Philharmonic. The chemistry of this recorded meeting of the often extreme Nikolaus Harnoncourt with the VPO is amazing. To be sure, this is not your average broadly-paced wade through late Bruckner. Instead, Harnoncourt leads the orchestra through the 7th at lyrically flowing tempos which lets the music sing like in no other performance. That did not surprise me. What did surprise me was how emotional, how warm this performance gets. By restraining the usual luxurious string textures and bloated brass chorales, Harnoncourt has focused his (and the orchestra’s) attention on the inner visions of this great score. Textures and gestures simply aren’t that important when a performance speaks with such sincerity. This approach may not be for everyone, but for those prepared to see another point of view, it is treasurable. One of Harnoncourt’s greatest recordings.
thanks