Notes and Editorial Reviews
"...The Scherzo shows the remarkable likeness to Schubert before transforming effortlessly into what we now regard as "classic" Bruckner (harmonically, melodically & tonally) & the Trio is pure joy to the ear. The outer movements gain immensely from the little extra nudge Blomstedt gives to the tempos for there is a gain of inner momentum."
- John Broggio,
SA-CD.net
The Bruckner 2nd Symphony, the least performed among the numbered symphonies, embraces a more spacious and refined atmosphere than the aggressive, impetuous 1st symphony. There are moments of great eloquence and a sense of mystery in the first movement and the work as a whole possesses many of the dramatic and lyrical
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hallmarks of the later Bruckner symphonies, including hushed string tremomlos, chorale-like brass flourishes, rustic rhythms in the scherzo and a lyrical Schubertian quality to many of the themes. This recording, with its rich acoustics, enhances what is already a superb performance.
- Greg La Traille, ArkivMusic
"Herbert Blomstedt is an old hand when it comes to Bruckner, and in this repertoire experience counts for a lot. The Second Symphony is full of potential pitfalls for the unwary, particularly the many moments of extraordinary beauty, which, if lingered upon, can seriously threaten the work’s progression and structure. That’s never a danger in Blomstedt’s readings though; he always has at least one eye on the bigger picture. His focus on the structure, on the finely graded tempo relationships, and on the music’s momentum, is justified by the quality of the orchestra he works with. He knows that there is no need to linger on the more elegant passages when the sumptuous Gewandhaus sound can impart elegance and depth, with or without rubato."
- Gavin Dixon, Fanfare Read less
Works on This Recording
1.
Symphony no 2 in C minor, WAB 102 by Anton Bruckner
Conductor:
Herbert Blomstedt
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1872-1876; Vienna, Austria
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