Search - Anton Bruckner, Carl Schuricht, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra :: Bruckner: Symphony No. 3

Old hand Schuricht always reliable in Bruckner

Larry VanDeSande | Mason, Michigan United States | 09/27/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Few conductors are as universally reliable interpreting the music of Anton Bruckner as Polish-born Carl Schuricht, a conductor that spent his career in Germany during the golden era of 20th century conductors. Schuricht is finding a new generation of followers in the new century through reissues like this one.



I first owned this recording when it was issued on Angel's (EMI) discount label Seraphim in the 1960s. The sound for that time wasn't up to today's digital standards but it was very good for its era. This was, in fact, the first Bruckner album I owned.



It is equally as wonderful an introduction to the musical universe of Bruckner today as it was then. Schuricht strikes a middle of the road approach to Bruckner, navigating between the exigencies of Furtwangler and the personal idiosyncrasies of Karajan, two Germans that represented the romantic and literal traditions on each side of World War II.



Schuricht, the old hand, steered a course between the two that merged the best of each world. He is gently romantic and allows the brass to wander a bit while never overstepping the boundaries of good taste...good taste as defined by the Alps-like peaks and valleys of a good Bruckner performance, that is -- and going off on a personal tangent the way Daniel Barenboim did with his first Bruckner recordings from Chicago in the 1970s.



Worry not, those of you that never heard of this conductor, for Carl Schuricht's way with Bruckner's Third Symphony is utterly reliable and affecting even when played persistently over time in your home. You will never rue the day you purchased this CD, which represents a wonderful performance by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, one of the very best European Bruckner orchestras."

Glorious sound, rich music

B. Morris | Richmond, Virginia USA | 06/19/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When I first heard this performance many years ago on a (probably noisy) Seraphim LP it did not hold my interest. However, after picking up the Bruckner 8th and 9th by Schuricht, I was ready to give his 3rd another listen, and I'm really glad I did! The interpretation (of the 1889 version) is rock-solid, and the sound is warm, rich, and detailed. Fine notes and a beautiful cover photo round out an exemplary disc."

Utterly Mesmerizing!

Doug - Haydn Fan | California | 02/12/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Although many fine new versions of this symphony have been issued this remains something of a touchstone. The Bruckner third requires a lyric touch not given to all Bruckner's advocates, and Shuricht had an inimitable way with the piece. Having known this performance from LP I was not prepared in the least for the transformation made by the CD release. If you thought you knew this performance from listening to the LP issue you would quite simply never recognize it as it sounds on the CD. To begin with the CD has about a hundred times more head room AND bottom room in sound: The Vienna Philharmonic wallops you. Apparently my memory of a lyrical beautifully tailored performance was grossly wrong - this performance conveys ever-expanding scales of pure orchestra chorales. The compression of sound necessary in making the LP was far, far more extreme than any of us back in the sixties could have imagined.

So what to make of this transformation? For one thing, Schuricht comes across as a conductor of tremendous dynamism, and the outlines and formal structure of the work previously visible in the LP incarnation are now submerged under a sonic avalanche. Like a great wine they will slowly emerge, but it's going to take a few listenings to quite get over the recording revelation.

If other master tapes of previous LP issues can be issued on CD with equal upgrading - well, the mind boggles. But it certainly is an intriquing prospect!

A challenging performance that will repay repeated listening."