Bruckner: Symphony 9 (Karajan)

 

Who would you want leading your last utterances as a composer?

For Anton Bruckner, Herbert von Karajan is an excellent choice. Symphony no. 9 in D minor is perhaps the composer's most experimental, an aspect which doe not daunt the German conductor.

In fact, he relishes the opportunity to dig into this music. Listen to the opening of the third movement, how intense and ferocious they are, not smoothing over the angularity or dissonance one bit. And yet, wait a few more seconds, and you will hear the most heavenly sounds in the following hymn-like chorale.

There are a few Karajan recordings out there. I feel there is more chutzpah to this 1975 performance compared to the 1966 one, and so too with the later 80s effort. Berlin plays as if their lives depended on it, yet the players are more than willing to shed their mortal coil upon the eternal last horn notes. Best yet, there is no speculative fourth movement to ruin the moment.

 

 

 

 

Work
Symphony 9 in D minor, WAB 109 (Nowak)
    I. Feierlich; misterioso (16.45)
   II. Scherzo (15.08)
  III. Adagio (26.07)

Performers
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Herbert von Karajan, conductor

Label: DGG
Year: 1975
Total Timing: 61.38

 

 

 

 

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