Bruckner: Symphony No. 5
Our Price: $25.60
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Category: Music CD
See more CD details
Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store
Canadian Music Store
CD Details
Composer: BrucknerConductor: Zander
Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra
Edition: Music CD
Audio: English (Unknown)
Format: Hybrid SACD - DSD
CD Release Date: 2009-03-24
Music Label: Telarc
Soundtracks:
Music CD 1
- Symphony No. 5 in B flat, WAB 105: 1. Adagio; Allegro
- Symphony No. 5 in B flat, WAB 105: 2. Adagio
- Symphony No. 5 in B flat, WAB 105: 3. Scherzo: Molto vivace
- Symphony No. 5 in B flat, WAB 105: 4. Finale: Adagio; Allegro moderato
- Benjamin Zander discusses Bruckner's Symphony No. 5: [Part 1]
- Benjamin Zander discusses Bruckner's Symphony No. 5: [Part 2]
- Benjamin Zander discusses Bruckner's Symphony No. 5: [Part 3]
- Benjamin Zander discusses Bruckner's Symphony No. 5: [Part 4]
- Benjamin Zander discusses Bruckner's Symphony No. 5: [Part 5]
Music reviews of Bruckner: Symphony No. 5
Music Review: Modern, streamlined Bruckner
Rating: 3 Stars
Here's a case of hype over achievement. The Benjamin Zander-Philharmonia Orchestra issue of the Bruckner Symphony No. 5 has gotten raves around the planet, but mostly for its somewhat innovative packaging and the additional second disk, a lecture by Zander on his ideas about Bruckner's contrapuntal Fifth Symphony. In that regard, this is an exemplary performance. Zander talks about the cathedrals of sound you can hear in Gunther Wand's famous (and now very expensive) Lubeck cathedral recording of the Bruckner Symphony No. 8 Bruckner: Symphony No. 8. The clever packaging also includes a seating chart of the orchestra for Zander's performance.
These are all nice add-ons but the music is the main thing and here. In my opinion, the music it isn't up to snuff. Like a streamlined locomotive or jet, this flies by as if hardly setting a wrinkle. Lost in the approach are the craggy edges of the mountain Bruckner builds through the score. The first three movement, which set the stage for the magnificent, long finale that includes a pair of double fugues, are performed fairly well. Unfortunately, the finale, even at about 21 minutes duration, is so rapidly paced as to disregard the monumentality of the thing. To me, this was a superficial reading of the finale which is full of opportunities for conductors to exploit regarding changes in texture, pace and rhythm. When these assets are used, the finale from the coda on is one of the most magnificent scores Bruckner penned.
I have a singular idea about this music and, especially, the finale. In the 1974 documentary The World at War (30th Anniversary Edition), the BBC's magnificent visual monument to the war, the first of 26 programs in the series is called "The New Germany 1933-39." It details Hitler's election, the takeover of power, the Germans' willingness to give up liberty for power, the Anschluss, takeover of the Sedetenland, up to the opening salvo of the war in Poland.
Near the end of that program, there are scenes of Germans celebrating Hitler's 50th birthday in the streets, amidst motorcades, and in general jubilation of the zeitgiest of German glory. The BBC accompanied this section with the finale of Bruckner's Symphony No. 5 from the coda to the end, shorn of the final chords. While an abomination of Bruckner's intent, the collaboration of music, voiceover and film created overwhelming emotional impact in the storytelling. This is what I expect when I hear the end of Bruckner's Symphony No. 5 and Zander's performance had none of it. It was as close to a meandering run-through of this titanic music that I can recall hearing.
Fortunately, Amazon buyers have lots of good alternatives to this although none in super audio sound. The other SACD Bruckner 5s, by Jarvi Symphony No 5 (Hybr), Harnoncourt Bruckner: Symphony No. 5 (with Excerpts from the Rehearsals) [Hybrid SACD] and Janowski Symphony No 5 (Hybr) each have their own problems effectively managing the music. My favorite recordings of the Bruckner Symphony 5 are Horenstein's 1971 concert recording on BBC Bruckner: Symphony 5, Hermann Abendroth's 1949 Leipzig concert Anton Bruckner: Symphony No 05 (also available in the hard to find Criterion Collection set in better sound -- ASIN: B000C05XSW,) and Furtwangler's concert recording from 1942 Bruckner: Symphony No 5 (also included in his six-pack from Arts & Music Furtwangler Conducts Bruckner: Symphonies 4,5,6,7,8,9.) While none has the opulent super audio sound you get here, all three offer interpretations that make more of the music than Zander finds.
Classical CDs
Music Genres
Bestsellers in Classical CDs
Winterscapesby London Philharmonic
Prophetic Voice; Published: 2000-07; Audio CD; Book
Best price: $2.75
Price in other shops:
The Queen, the Bear, & the Bumblebeeby Dini Petty
Children's Group; Published: 2001-03; Audio CD; Book
Best price: $13.38
Price in other shops:
Classical Kids - Beethoven Lives Upstairs CdrRelease date: 2000-04-05; Music CD
Best price: $24.97
Tchaikovsky (Life and Works (Naxos))by Malcolm Sinclair, Jeremy Siepmann
Naxos; Published: 2003-11; Audio CD; Book
Best price: $35.99
![Jose Carreras - Jubileum Concert [VHS] Image](/images/Jose-Carreras-Jubileum-Concert-VHS-1584481471-X.jpg){kind=small}
Jose Carreras - Jose Carreras - Jubileum Concert [VHS]Sling Shot; Release date: 2000-04-18; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $5.86
Price in other shops:
![Tchaikovsky - The Nutcracker / Nureyev, Park, Royal Ballet [VHS] Image](/images/Tchaikovsky-The-Nutcracker-Nureyev-Park-Royal-Ballet-VHS-156127092X-X.jpg){kind=small}
Tchaikovsky - The Nutcracker / Nureyev, Park, Royal Ballet [VHS]Kultur Video; Release date: 1997-09-09; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $29.90
Price in other shops:
![Lonely Town Lonley Street / Sergeant's Early Dream [VHS] Image](/images/Lonely-Town-Lonley-Street-Sergeant-Early-Dream-VHS-1561270857-X.jpg){kind=small}
Rambert Dance Company - Lonely Town Lonley Street / Sergeant's Early Dream [VHS]Kultur Video; Release date: 1997-10-28; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $14.99
Price in other shops:
Winter Music: Composing the Northby John Luther Adams
Wesleyan; Published: 2004-11-10; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $25.27
Price in other shops:
![Puccini - La Fanciulla del West / Santi, Domingo, Neblett, Royal Opera Covent Garden [VHS] Image](/images/Puccini-La-Fanciulla-del-West-Santi-Domingo-Neblett-Royal-Opera-Covent-Garden-VHS-0769720382-X.jpg){kind=small}
Puccini - La Fanciulla del West / Santi, Domingo, Neblett, Royal Opera Covent Garden [VHS]Kultur Video; Release date: 1999-05-25; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $6.38
Price in other shops:
![Verdi - Falstaff / Giulini, Bruson, Ricciarelli, Nucci, Royal Opera Covent Garden [VHS] Image](/images/Verdi-Falstaff-Giulini-Bruson-Ricciarelli-Nucci-Royal-Opera-Covent-Garden-VHS-0769720358-X.jpg){kind=small}
Verdi - Falstaff / Giulini, Bruson, Ricciarelli, Nucci, Royal Opera Covent Garden [VHS]Kultur Video; Release date: 1999-05-25; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $12.95
Price in other shops:
Similar CDs
![Mahler: Symphony No. 1; Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen [Hybrid SACD] Image](/images/Mahler-Symphony-No-1-Lieder-eines-fahrenden-Gesellen-Hybrid-SACD-B000BFH27I-X.jpg)
Mahler: Symphony No. 1; Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen [Hybrid SACD]Release date: 2005-10-25; Music CD
Best price: $19.80