As is typical of the German conductor, he is generally in no hurry, but that is all to the better here, as he builds intensity from within the ensemble as no one else, rather than through speed. This approach is generally more appealing to me, but I could imagine some listeners needing a boost in movement.
This could certainly be true of the second movement 'sehr langsam', where paced too slow and the pulse can be completely lost. Not so here, with the pizzicato strings as big as life from Berlin on DGG.
Plus, the arrival of the final coda is a furor in-and-of itself under Karajan in Berlin, enough to make anyone a believer. Listen to that timpanist go at it, as if his life depended on it, towards the end! If you like Karajan's approach to Bruckner, here at 80 minutes total, but would like to sample something a little swifter, Barenboim with Berlin in the 90s is an excellent sample of such a product.
Otherwise, I am most happy with Karajan's Fifth Symphony, a bright light in a dazzling set of Bruckner symphonies. The trumpets could be a little more cohesive amongst the many brass chorales, with a boost of the mellow horns instead, but this is a personal preference. The lush strings from Berlin more than make up for any tiny ensemble issues I might have.
Work
Symphony 5 in B-flat Major, WAB 105
I. Introduction (20.43)
II. Sehr Langsam (21.26)
III. Scherzo (13.44)
IV. Finale (24.42)
Performers
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Herbert von Karajan, conductor
Label: DGG
Year: 1977
Total Timing: 80.35
Find more Bruckner recordings HERE!
No comments:
Post a Comment