Composer: Anton Bruckner
Performer: Jessye Norman, Yvonne Minton, David Rendall, Samuel Ramey
Orchestra: Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Conductor: Daniel Barenboim
Audio CD
Number of Discs: 1
Format: APE (image+cue)
Label: Deutsche Grammophon
Size: 272 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
01. Symphony No.1 in C minor – “Linz Version” 1866 – 1. Allegro molto moderato
02. Symphony No.1 in C minor – “Linz Version” 1866 – 2. Adagio
03. Symphony No.1 in C minor – “Linz Version” 1866 – 3. Scherzo. Lebhaft
04. Symphony No.1 in C minor – “Linz Version” 1866 – 4. Finale. Bewegt und feurig
05. Te Deum for Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra – 1. Te Deum laudamus
06. Te Deum for Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra – 2. Te ergo
07. Te Deum for Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra – 3. Aeterna fac
08. Te Deum for Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra – 4. Salvum fac
09. Te Deum for Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra – 5. In te, Domine, speravi
A pumped up Symphony coupled with a superbly sung “Te Deum”
As happens too often these days, Amazon has got its wires crossed and confused these, Barenboim’s 1980/81 recordings for DG with those he made for EMI and made some erroneous links, so be careful when you buy that you are getting what you actually want.
My regular readers (if I have many or any) will know that I am by no means a devoted fan of Daniel Barenboim as a conductor or pianist, but credit where it’s due: these are tremendous recordings, exceptionally beautifully and energetically played by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra with a real edge on the brass when it’s let off the leash and a propulsive, thrilling momentum. While I love Karajan’s grand rendering, this has much better sound and presents a rawer, tougher, more abandoned interpretation. More New than Old World, perhaps?
The names of the four soloists in the “Te Deum” will be enough to attract the punter who loves great voices and they prove to be a vibrant team, ably backed by the superb Chicago Symphony Chorus (trained by Margaret Hills) who made a striking “Damnation de Faust” with Solti in the same year and a memorable Verdi Requiem four years before that. It is a particular pleasure for his fans to be able to hear David Rendall’s distinctive tenor taking a lead role in the “Te ergo quaesumus” and “Salvum fac”, as he did not make so many recordings but his three co-singers rightly were and are super-stars. This is a grand, big-boned account to match the splendour of the symphony; a first-rate and wholly logical pairing – good programming by DG.
thanks