Bruckner: Symphony No. 7 in E Major

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Of Anton Bruckner's 11 symphonies, the perennially popular Symphony No. 7 in E major is his most consistently melodious, evenly paced, and lyrically flowing, with comparatively few false starts, awkward pauses, or tedious fanfares. For this exceptional hybrid SACD from PentaTone, Yakov Kreizberg and the Vienna Symphony deliver one of the smoothest and roundest performances of the symphony heard in years. Yet it might actually be too polished for the liking of some old-guard Bruckner fans, who may argue that the orchestra is too mellow, luscious, and soft, and that Kreizberg's inflections and phrases are too nuanced and sensual for the composer's pure, almost sacred, intentions. But more important than the undeniably rich tonal quality found here is the interpretation, which draws on the style of Wagner's most ardent music; some of the more ecstatic passages of Lohengrin and Tristan und Isolde may come to mind when one hears this disc. There is no reason why Bruckner's symphonies must always sound chaste, devotional, or like ponderously orchestrated organ music, for they are secular works by a passionate man who wished especially to be counted in the Wagner camp, and who would have relished hearing such an emotive account as this. It also helps to remember that Wagner's death inspired the slow movement of this work, and it should be taken as Bruckner's most heartfelt tribute to the Bayreuth master. Purists may let Kreizberg's recording pass by unheard, but anyone who wants to hear the symphony played with full-blown emotions and lush, late-Romantic timbres need look no further. The reproduction on this album is especially gorgeous and enjoyable, so in the unlikely event that the performance disappoints, the sound is still first-rate and sure to delight audiophiles.

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