Bruckner

Bruckner
Josef Anton Bruckner (4 September 1824 – 11 October 1896) was an Austrian composer known for his symphonies, masses, and motets. The first are considered emblematic of the final stage of Austro-German Romanticism because of their rich harmonic language, strongly polyphonic character, and considerable length. Bruckner's compositions helped to define contemporary musical radicalism, owing to their dissonances, unprepared modulations, and roving harmonies.

Unlike other musical radicals such as Richard Wagner and Hugo Wolf who fit the enfant terrible mould, Bruckner showed extreme humility before other musicians, Wagner in particular. This apparent dichotomy between Bruckner the man and Bruckner the composer hampers efforts to describe his life in a way that gives a straightforward context for his music.

His works, the symphonies in particular, had detractors, most notably the influential Austrian critic Eduard Hanslick, and other supporters of Johannes Brahms who pointed to their large size and use of repetition, as well as to Bruckner's propensity for revising many of his works, often with the assistance of colleagues, and his apparent indecision about which versions he preferred. On the other hand, Bruckner was greatly admired by subsequent composers including his friend Gustav Mahler, who described him as "half simpleton, half God".
Close
Bruckner

Bruckner

Josef Anton Bruckner (4 September 1824 – 11 October 1896) was an Austrian composer known for his symphonies, masses, and motets. The first are considered emblematic of the final stage of Austro-German Romanticism because of their rich harmonic language, strongly polyphonic character, and considerable length. Bruckner's compositions helped to define contemporary musical radicalism, owing to their dissonances, unprepared modulations, and roving ...
Read More
22 albums
Download from €7.00 | Buy on CD from €10.00
BRUCKNER Symphony No. 9 in D minor (original version)

BBC broadcast, Free Trade Hall, Manchester
Total duration: 57:43

Hallé Orchestra
BBC Northern Symphony Orchestra  

Sir John Barbirolli
, conductor


Download from €7.00 | Buy on CD from €10.00
BRUCKNER  Symphony No. 7 in E major

Recorded Großen Musikvereinssaal, Vienna, 4-5 June 1943
Total duration: 67:19  

Karl Böhm, conductor
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra

Download from €14.00 | Buy on CD from €20.00

BRUCKNER Symphony No. 4
BRUCKNER Symphony No. 7

Live recordings, 1951
Total duration: 2hr 8:38

Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra

conducted by Wilhelm Furtwängler

Download from €7.00 | Buy on CD from €10.00

BRUCKNER Symphony No. 6 (Mvts. 2-4)
BRUCKNER Symphony No. 7 (2nd mvt.)
Recorded Berlin, 1943 and 1942
Total duration: 59:33

Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
conductor Wilhelm Furtwängler

Download from €7.00 | Buy on CD from €10.00

BRUCKNER Symphony No. 4
Recorded Stuttgart, 1951
Total duration: 65:29

Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
conductor Wilhelm Furtwängler

Download from €7.00 | Buy on CD from €10.00

BRUCKNER Symphony No. 4

Live concert performance, 1951
Total duration: 66:00

Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
conducted by Wilhelm Furtwängler

NB. A previous restoration of this recording is also available as part of a double-CD set on PASC580, coupled with Bruckner's Symphony No. 7