Symphony No. 6 in A major, WAB 106: Adagio, Sehr feierlich
Symphony No. 6 in A major, WAB 106: Scherzo: Nicht schnell, Trio: Langsam
Symphony No. 6 in A major, WAB 106: Finale: Bewegt, doch nicht zu schnell
Wesendonk Lieder, songs (5) for voice & piano (or orchestra), WWV 91: No. 1, 'Der Engel': 'In der Kindheit fruhen Tagen'
Wesendonk Lieder, songs (5) for voice & piano (or orchestra), WWV 91: No. 2, 'Stehe still!': 'Sausendes, brausendes Rad der Zeit'
Wesendonk Lieder, songs (5) for voice & piano (or orchestra), WWV 91: No. 3, 'Im Treibhaus': 'Hochgewolbte Blatterkronen'
Wesendonk Lieder, songs (5) for voice & piano (or orchestra), WWV 91: No. 4, 'Schmerzen': 'Sonne, weinest jeden Abend dir die schonen
Wesendonk Lieder, songs (5) for voice & piano (or orchestra), WWV 91: No. 5, 'Traume': 'Sag, welch wunderbare Traume'
There are very few recordings of mainstream classical repertoire that a critic can call "the best" and be believed. Bruckner's Sixth by Otto Klemperer is one of these--a recording on which everything just went right. "Old ... more »Klemp," as the orchestra fondly called him, was in top form, the players had a great day, and the engineers captured it all in glowingly natural sound. Part of the special quality of this performance stems from the very steady tempo of the opening theme, which allows the more lyrical second subject to blossom forth far more vigorously than usual. In fact, despite the conductor's reputation, this isn't a slow performance at all. It simply flows like some mighty river, to its appointed end. --David Hurwitz« less
There are very few recordings of mainstream classical repertoire that a critic can call "the best" and be believed. Bruckner's Sixth by Otto Klemperer is one of these--a recording on which everything just went right. "Old Klemp," as the orchestra fondly called him, was in top form, the players had a great day, and the engineers captured it all in glowingly natural sound. Part of the special quality of this performance stems from the very steady tempo of the opening theme, which allows the more lyrical second subject to blossom forth far more vigorously than usual. In fact, despite the conductor's reputation, this isn't a slow performance at all. It simply flows like some mighty river, to its appointed end. --David Hurwitz
CD Reviews
Never is heard a discouraging word!
Howard G Brown | Port St. Lucie, FL USA | 01/02/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Years ago I bought the lp release of this recording and wore out the grooves by the time the Haitink/Phillips lp arrived on the scene. The Phillips pressing was cleaner than Angel at that time, and the Concertgebouw Orchestra was and remains very much at home in Bruckner's music. Other recordings came and went. I rediscovered the Klemperer recording in it's first CD release -- and what a rediscovery it was! It is the one constant in my collection of Bruckner symphonies. The recording probably sounds even better in the new reissue with the Wesendonck Lieder, though how it could better the "original" CD reissue is beyond me. Without a doubt this is the finest recording of any Bruckner symphony -- now and in the forseeable future.Even Hanslick would love this. If you don't have it, get it."
Third CD is a charm
Trevor Gillespie | San Jose, California United States | 04/25/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"First I bought George Tinter's recording of Bruckner's 6th Symphony. It is from this CD that I became acquainted with the work. Then I heard the performance live which was incredible. I immediately had to find a new recording. I turned to Daniel Barenboim and the Berlin Philharmonic. Though it is a credible and fine performance, it lacked what I had come to love in this symphony--namely heavy brass and broad tempos. Finally, I turned to this Klemperer recording. First, thanks to the many reviews testifying to this being a great recording, because it is. The brass is great in this recording---definitely the highlight. The basses are great too---heavy, dark and brooding. The first three movements are incredible as is the fourth but the ending of the fourth tends to be somewhat problematic. In the hands of many conductors, the piece doesn't feel finished and the listener is left feeling that the symphony isn't resolved. However, with Otto Klemperer, you do get the feeling that the symphony is over and resolution is more full (just like a previous reviewer had commented). The sound is great too considering it's not a digital recording---warm, spacious, clear, and revealling of textures."
Magnificent
cdsullivan@massed.net | Cambridge, MA USA | 10/20/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This recording is so perfect it hardly needs a review. Bruckner's Symphony #6, a notoriously difficult work to bring off, is given a fabulous performance here by Klemperer and the NPO. The orchestra is on top form: radiant strings, sumptuous woodwinds, glowing brass; Klemperer, a master of orchestral structure and texture, gets the complex balances exactly right - listen to the amount of detail that can be heard at the majestic statement of the first movement's first theme. Klemperer's tempi are exactly right (no notorious sluggishness), and his reading of the score is incandescent. I was no great fan of Bruckner - until I heard this recording. The engineers contribute a superb Bruckner sound, clear and rich. Wagner's beautiful Wesendonck Lieder are given a glorious performance by Christa Ludwig, the queen of Wagnerian mezzos. The rich, creamy splendor of her voice is perfectly supported by Klemperer's warm, sensitive accompaniment. Brief but informative notes comment on both the music and the performances. At mid price, this is a superb bargain. I think the Wesendonck Lieder might be surpassed by Flagstad's orchestral version, with Knappertsbusch. The Bruckner has not, and will never be, surpassed."
A milestone
danielinyaracuy | San Felipe, Yaracuy Venezuela | 05/18/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"As recording technology improves, as there are more and more brilliant orchestras you keep hoping to find the perfect Bruckner 6. And you always come back to this one recording. This is one of those moments in the history of musical interpretation when the quality of the music making is so extraordinary that it trascends the technology of its time. Some of the other guys are good, but Klemperer beats them all here. Perhaps because this is the most "different" of Bruckner's compositions, the one that expresses best a certain hurried angst, a misplaced haste in contrast with the most poignant "funeral march" ever inserted in a symphony, that makes most directors stumble with this one. What did Klemperer understood that allowed him to direct such an energetic and yet introspective interpretation of what is perhaps the greatest and most misunderstood of Bruckner's work? This reviewer thinks that Klemperer was able to see the vitality and hope in Bruckner, a vitality that eluded Bruckner himself."
Superb
David Rothstein | Shaarei-Tikva Israel | 02/10/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Bruckner's 6th hasn't through the years been as popular as its "neighbours", being slightly "drawfed" by the mighty 5th and the gothic "Wagnerian" 7th.However it is great music and is now being treated as the masterpiece it is.It is interesting that most probably Klemperer's greatest recorded legacy of Bruckner is this recording of the 6th which is simply superb.The tempo, sound, logic,performance and interpretation are excellent. The tempo is surprising for Klemperer (not slow in the fast movements) although those who love Klemperer's Beethoven will acknowledge the maestro's touch.In my opinion Klemperer's special triumph in this recording is actually the last movement which has been for me in the past rather a "let down" fron the 3 previous movements. Here, under Klemperer's baton this movement becomes a natural finale of the symphony with driving propulsion and power until its logical (though relatively) short conclusion.A must for Brucknerians."
Track Listings (9) - Disc #1