1. March in D minor
2. Three Orchestral Pieces
While these four movements are usually added to recordings as makeweights, the news here is the lovely, warm tone coming from the Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra.
Gustavo Gimeno shapes the phrases in these short offerings in such a way as to indicate love. Sure, no one is going to run home and crow about Bruckner's March in D minor, yet Gimeno and Luxembourg eke out their best sound for them.
Plus, I love how Bruckner opens the March in a surly D minor, only to surprise the listener a few bars later by moving to the parallel major. The Three Orchestral Pieces show the composer's love of brass moments, plus many wind solos to boot.
Really, this was more of an introduction before I coast into Bruckner's symphonies, but ended up being a rather pleasant listen. I can't speak to Gimeno's reading of the early Symphony no. 1, but if they are captured in this shape, it should at least be lovely sound.
Overture in G minor
This is one, however, I doubt I will visit too often. Steinberg pushes the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra unmercilessly, and the sonics are no great shakes. Not poor mind you, but coming from the PentaTone recording above, there was some desire left sonically. I would probably head to Chailly, Schaller, or Janowski (in France) in this Overture first.
Even at a fast tempo though, I felt the work too long for what it offered. Still, it is good to hear what Bruckner was working on before he began his symphonies proper.
Recording Round-up
March in D minor, WAB 96
Three Orchestral Pieces, WAB 97
Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra
Gustavo Gimeno, conductor
PentaTone, 2017
Overture in G minor, WAB 98
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
William Steinberg, conductor
Command, 1968; DG, 2023
March in D minor, WAB 96
Three Orchestral Pieces, WAB 97
Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra
Gustavo Gimeno, conductor
PentaTone, 2017
Overture in G minor, WAB 98
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
William Steinberg, conductor
Command, 1968; DG, 2023
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