Pastoral Archive
BRUCKNER: Symphony No. 9 – Hallé Orch./BBC Northern Sym. Orch./ Sir John Barbirolli – Pristine Audio
This previously-unreleased Barbirolli/Bruckner Ninth bristles with ardent energy and yearning devotion. BRUCKNER: Symphony No. 9 in d minor (Original Version), WAB 109 – Hallé Orchestra/BBC Northern Sym. Orch./ Sir John Barbirolli – Pristine Audio PASC 486, 57:43 [avail in various formats from www.pristineclassical.com] ****: Producer and recording engineer Andrew Rose resurrects a taped BBC performance of Bruckner’s unfinished Ninth Symphony (1887-1896) given by Sir John Barbirolli at Free Trade Hall, Manchester, England,14th December, 1961, the conductor’s debut in this music. The combined orchestras of the Halle and Northern Symphony come as a true rarity, and Barbirolli coordinates his forces well. The opening movement vibrates with a palpable luminosity, nervous and grandly ardent. The challenge lies in imposing a sense of structure on the fantasia that Bruckner unfolds, moving quickly from d minor into D-flat and E Major in order to effect potent fff climaxes spread over long periods. The earthy energy Barbirolli applies well reminds me of the performances of Bruckner by Eduard van Beinum, which likewise strain for mystical release in the face of grinding tension. The most exalted rendition, the Furtwaengler 1944 performance in Berlin, attains its anguished mysticism in the face of contemporary world history. Still, the unison […]
BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 5 in c minor; Sym. No. 6 in F Major; “Pastoral”; Sym. No. 8 in F Major; Leonore Ov. No. 3; SCHUBERT: Sym. No. 8 “Unfinished” – Berlin State Opera Orch./Vienna Philharmonic – Pristine Audio (2 CDs)
Franz Schalk’s complete recorded legacy reveals a Viennese musician thoroughly familiar with the repertory he champions.
DVORAK: Symphony No. 8 in G Major; Ten Legends – Bournemouth Sym. Orch./ Jose Serebrier – Warner Classics
Jose Serebrier extends his affectionate survey of Dvorak with an effective pairing of both modest and grandly symphonic works.
The Columbia BEETHOVEN Centennial Series, Vol. III = Symphony No. 5 in C Minor; Symphony No. 6 in F Major, “Pastoral” – Royal Philharmonic Orch./ Felix Weingartner – Pristine Audio
Fast but penetrating performances of Beethoven’s middle symphonies performed by the esteemed Felix Weingartner.
BEETHOVEN: The Piano Sonatas Vol. 1 = Sonata No. 15 in D Major “Pastoral”; Sonata No. 25 in G Major; Sonata No. 8 in C Minor “Pathétique”; Sonata No. 28 in A Major – Steven Masi, p. – Concezio
The first volume in Steven Masi’s Beethoven project is uneven but has strengths enough to suggest that very good things should follow.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
