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Discussion: Bruckner: Symphony No. 7 - Fischer

Posts: 68
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Post by tailspn July 26, 2014 (11 of 68)
rosenkavalier817 said:

Has anyone else noticed an added hiss from approximately 14:30-15:00 in the first movement?

I checked both the stereo and mch 33714 edited masters (from which the cutting masters that produce the SACD's originate), and can find no hiss, let alone "added hiss" anywhere. Especially at the times you indicate in the first movement.

That's not to say you're not hearing exactly as you describe, it's just not there in the edited masters. I don't have a copy of the SACD, but I'm sure Jared will check that. It's been a big seller, and no one has remarked on a hiss up to now.

We'll check further.

Thanks Matthew!

Tom

Post by tailspn July 26, 2014 (12 of 68)
fausto K said:

...and some critical notes from David Hurwitz. I suspect Fischer has pulled a Järvi here Bruckner: Symphony No. 5 - Neeme Järvi. We hear more Fischer than Bruckner. "He zips through it", and that especially with the 7th! How could that appeal to anyone familiar with the great 7s of the past, including on SACD?

here's Hurwitz's review:
http://www.classicstoday.com/review/fischer-puts-bruckner-diet/

Ah Fausto, how you love to bash Ivan Fischer! And, I especially like the way you pick and choose snippets of other people's writings to bolster your position.

To complete Hurwitz's sentence you quoted "He zips through it"... ,light and fresh, the brass clear and glowing but never forcing the tone.

And to add my own quoting from the same piece, which I think sums up the review:

"You might say that Fischer “de-spiritualizes” the music if you dislike the interpretation, and “humanizes” it if you do, but there’s no denying the fact that he has a valid and cogent vision of the work, one that the Budapest Festival Orchestra executes beautifully, captured by the Channel Classics engineers in typically warm, naturally balanced SACD sound. It’s also good to hear an orchestra that isn’t trying to be the Vienna Philharmonic or the Chicago Symphony, finding a way to play Bruckner in keeping with its own strengths."

Thanks for bringing this up Fausto, and allowing me the opportunity to reply.

Post by wehecht July 26, 2014 (13 of 68)
True, this isn't a traditional 7th, thank goodness. As one who has always found Bruckner difficult, and the "great" performances ponderous and pretentious, I'm very happy with this one. I dearly wish that maestro Fischer and his splendid band would move on to less over recorded repertoire, but this performance is well worth whatever degree of duplication it brings to a collection.

Post by pgmdir July 26, 2014 (14 of 68)
wehecht said:

True, this isn't a traditional 7th, thank goodness. As one who has always found Bruckner difficult, and the "great" performances ponderous and pretentious, I'm very happy with this one. I dearly wish that maestro Fischer and his splendid band would move on to less over recorded repertoire, but this performance is well worth whatever degree of duplication it brings to a collection.

Couldn't agree more, Bill. I know there are those who feel that if you like Mahler, you gotta like Bruckner-- and they're as different as can be.

Post by Kal Rubinson July 26, 2014 (15 of 68)
wehecht said:

True, this isn't a traditional 7th, thank goodness. As one who has always found Bruckner difficult, and the "great" performances ponderous and pretentious, I'm very happy with this one. I dearly wish that maestro Fischer and his splendid band would move on to less over recorded repertoire, but this performance is well worth whatever degree of duplication it brings to a collection.

Just as I was reading your post, RCOLive was broadcasting a Haitink-conducted performance and it seemed so laid-back and ordinary to me.

Post by fausto K July 26, 2014 (16 of 68)
tailspn said:

Ah Fausto, how you love to bash Ivan Fischer! ...

No, I DON'T like to bash Ivan Fischer. I actually like a few of his recordings (Beethoven, Brahms, Mahler). But the Bruckner (like the Rite of Spring disc) proves that Fischer has a certain "kammermusikalische" approach to the score that, in my view (!), is not appropriate, certainly not re the 7th. The fact that people here (Wehecht et al) who do not naturally "like" Bruckner DO like this Fischer recording proves my point (if you think that traditional Bruckner is ponderous, I guess you'd rather listen to e.g. Schubert or Mozart; nobody is obliged to listen to Bruckner!).
It is of course legit that Fischer interprets the B7 (or any Bruckner) the way he does, but that doesn't make it a natural choice -- and I took the Hurwitz review to express precisely that; knowing Hurwitz's views about Bruckner and the recordings of yore , I'm pretty sure he wouldn't think Fischer is a first choice (this one on SACD is: http://www.classicstoday.com/review/review-13990/?search=1). In other words, to be fair, I suppose Fischer's Bruckner is a bit of a curate's egg.

Post by fausto K July 27, 2014 (17 of 68)
fausto K said:

... In other words, to be fair, I suppose Fischer's Bruckner is a bit of a curate's egg.

... or to be less fair, a Bruckner for Bruckner-bashers!

Post by channel July 27, 2014 (18 of 68)
fausto K said:

... or to be less fair, a Bruckner for Bruckner-bashers!

I see the score as a starting point for the composer and the musicians to begin exploring the music. Most composers I have read about or talked to are never ones to be committed to owning the only interpretation.
I have made over 400 recordings and everyone always has had a discussion concerning tempo and how to interpret the composer but also the age we live in. (not to forget the hall where one is playing as this also effects the tempos taken).
What I don't understand are the comments that are so black and white. To say that a tempo 'is bad and not good' is ludicrous as the comment is putting the writer above everyone else. My feeling is you like or don't like it. Or find it not to one's taste. But to just say it is wrong or not like Bruckner intended means there is no room for interpretation. And only because it has been played a certain way for the last 100 years leaves no room for others to feel differently about the piece.
Me personally, I can now listen to the 7th and really enjoy it.
For what it's worth.

Jared

Post by mekduk July 27, 2014 (19 of 68)
@rosenkavalier817: Do you refer to somewhere along 14:34 and 14:55?
It's the dragon breath :)

I am so looking forward to this. The first 15 minutes (while checking for the dragon breath), I am already enjoying this. I adore Mahler and this Bruckner is superbly done, along with my Japanese Günter Wand disc.

Post by Lute July 27, 2014 (20 of 68)
If Fischer's interpretation of the 7th brings more folks to Bruckner's music, I can only see that as a positive thing. In my case, it was Stanislaw Skrowaczewski (and a visit to St. Florian and the Austrian countryside) that helped me to "get" Bruckner. Grüß Gott!

Anyway, these symphonies do seem to bring out the competitive nature in listeners.

Here's a discussion of this phenomenon. The readers' comments at the end are interesting as well.

http://klacknermusic.wordpress.com/2010/11/17/who-is-the-best-bruckner-interpreter-of-all-time/

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