At the forefront of Bruckner interpreters, Günter Wand developed a performing style for the symphonies that may be regarded as sufficiently exacting for the sake of structure, yet expansive enough to communicate the deep spirituality that is essential to the music. The Symphony No. 5 in B flat major is one of Bruckner's most moving documents, and the expressions Wand and the Munich Philharmonic brought out in this live 1995 performance of the Haas edition are almost perfectly attuned to the intensity and monumentality of ...
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At the forefront of Bruckner interpreters, Günter Wand developed a performing style for the symphonies that may be regarded as sufficiently exacting for the sake of structure, yet expansive enough to communicate the deep spirituality that is essential to the music. The Symphony No. 5 in B flat major is one of Bruckner's most moving documents, and the expressions Wand and the Munich Philharmonic brought out in this live 1995 performance of the Haas edition are almost perfectly attuned to the intensity and monumentality of the piece. But just as importantly, the symphony coheres better here than in many other renditions because Wand and the orchestra maintained a transparent form, avoided expressive exaggerations, and kept up momentum by minimizing the numerous breaks and pauses. Bruckner's chronic starts and stops are prominent in this work, because he took pains to mark off each of his themes and motives clearly, in preparation for the overpowering fugue in the Finale, the ultimate goal. Anyone first...
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