Posted by Warren Malach on June 17, 19102 at 18:58:18:

In Reply to: Re: The FINEST Bruckner 6th posted by Ara A. on June 17, 19102 at 01:15:57:

Ara, for me what makes or breaks a performance of the Sixth Symphony is the way in which the rhythmic figure is first "telegraphed" by the violins at the very beginning of the first movement. Obviously this is a very subjective matter of opinion, but for me a slower tempo established right at the beginning in the violin figure gives the opening of the Symphony that air of mystery ogous to the string tremolo used at the beginning of other Bruckner Symphonies. I have collected every cd I have been able to find either new or used of this, my favorite Bruckner Symphony, and I am unhappy with most because the violin figure played "too fast" sounds nervous, not mysterious. I will concede that even a "nervous" tempo in the violin figure still makes a viable contrast with the melody line in the lower strings. It is interesting how some of the liner notes and even an article in the old CHORD AND DISCORD magazine of the Bruckner Society of America mentioned the problems for the conductor in the performances of the Sixth Symphony, and how these problems may have contributed to the fact that this Symphony was traditionally the least-played of the last Symphonies. All this personal opinion is my prelude to stating my feelings that the Skrowaczewski/Saarruecken/Arte Nova performance, while very good, does not make my top list of recorded performances of that Symphony. Celibidache/Munich/EMI and Klemperer/New Philharmonia/EMI still top my list. --Warren

Follow Ups:

• Re: The FINEST Bruckner 6th Ara A. 23:11:12 6/18/102 (8)
  • Re: The FINEST Bruckner 6th Warren Malach 00:07:31 6/19/102 (7)
    • Re: The FINEST Bruckner 6th Ara A. 22:47:03 6/19/102 (1)
      • Re: The FINEST Bruckner 6th Warren Malach 14:38:19 6/20/102 (0)
    • Disagree About the Finale Mike the Man 20:12:47 6/19/102 (4)
      • Re: Disagree About the Finale Warren Malach 14:23:08 6/20/102 (3)
        • Finales, Complete and Incomplete Mike the Man 20:40:08 6/20/102 (2)
          • Re: Finales, Complete and Incomplete Warren Malach 09:29:34 6/21/102 (1)
            • Finales, Good or Bad? John Rasmussen 09:50:08 9/04/102 (0)

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