Composer: Anton Bruckner
Orchestra: Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR
Conductor: Sir Roger Norrington
Number of Discs: 5
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: SWR Classic
Catalogue: SWR19528CD
Release: 2021
Size: 1.14 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
CD 01
Symphony No. 3 in D Minor, WAB 103 “Wagner” (First Version)
01. I. Gemäßigt, misterioso
02. II. Adagio. Feierlich
03. III. Scherzo. Ziemlich schnell – Trio. Gleiches Zeitmaß
04. IV. Finale. Allegro
CD 02
Symphony No. 4 in E-Flat Major, WAB 104 “Romantic” (First Version)
01. I. Allegro
02. II. Andante, quasi allegretto
03. III. Scherzo. Sehr schnell – Trio. Im gleichen Tempo
04. IV. Finale. Bewegt, doch nicht zu schnell
CD 03
Symphony No. 6 in A major, WAB 106
01. I. Majestoso – Bedeutend langsamer
02. II. Adagio. Sehr feierlich
03. III. Scherzo. Nicht schnell – Trio. Langsam
04. IV. Finale. Bewegt, doch nicht zu schnell
CD 04
Symphony No. 7 in E major, WAB 107
01. I. Allegro moderato
02. II. Adagio. Sehr feierlich und sehr langsam – Moderato
03. III. Scherzo. Sehr schnell – Trio. Etwas langsamer
04. IV. Finale. Bewegt, doch nicht schnell
CD 05
Symphony No. 9 in D minor, WAB 109
01. I. Feierlich; misterioso
02. II. Scherzo. Bewegt, lebhaft – Trio. Schnell
03. III. Adagio. Langsam, feierlich
Sir Roger Norrington has been chief conductor of the former Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra RSO (today SWR Symphonieorchester) for thirteen years. During this time he caused internationally quite a stir with what got to be called “The Stuttgart Sound”, a synthesis between historically informed performance and technical capabilities of a modern orchestra. Whether Mozart or Haydn, Bruckner or Brahms, Norrington’s main focus laid on quick tempi, a “pure ton” (that is, vibratoless), articulation, seating plan and orchestra size as experienced by the composers themselves back in their time.
With the present re-issue of his Bruckner SWR-recordings, Norrington sought to render the “human face” of Bruckner, not just the quasi-religious abstraction the public is sometimes given instead. His symphonies are secular works written with the Musikverein Vienna in mind. They contain descriptive music (journeys, nature, birds), dance music and humor, unexpected dramatic passages, and pauses. In his entirely individual style (culled from Beethoven, Schubert, Mendelssohn and Wagner, but rarely sounding like any of them), Bruckner echoes memories of his own violin playing as a youth at village weddings, quite as much as those of the St. Florian organ loft.
Master of the FLACs – thx, nice one – Norrington did also some MAHLER recordings with this Orchestra, worth checking out