Bruckner: Symphony No. 4 in E-Flat Major, WAB 104 "Romantic" (1878/80 Nowak 2nd Edition) [Live]

Albumbeschreibung

The bicentennial celebrations of Anton Bruckner's birth have, unsurprisingly, inspired performances and releases of the composer's works from orchestras all over the world. Here, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, under its chief conductor, Domingo Hindoyan, offers its take on one of Bruckner's most popular works, the Symphony No. 4 in E flat major ("Romantic"), in its second version from 1878/1880. There is not anything particularly notable here. There is some fine playing from the orchestra throughout, especially in the opening movement and finale. The best the orchestra has to offer here is found in the very strong "Bewegt, nicht zu schnell" first movement. The orchestra displays great precision here; bold and weighty or soft and lyrical as called for, and the group stretches the dynamic range wonderfully. The winds are distinctly effective right from the opening horn call. There is a bit of inconsistency in the middle movements, not least of which is a noticeably different sound environment as the recording is stitched together from rehearsals, a live performance, and a "patch session" from several months after the live performance. The orchestra returns to form in the finale, "Bewegt, doch nicht zu schnell," and the recording finishes on a high note. Listeners have many choices of which to choose, of this particular version or the others, and there are sure to be more as the celebratory year continues.

© Keith Finke /TiVo