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In the Forum: Musical Discussions
In the Thread: ... and some Bruckner buzz
Post Subject: Bruckner 9, Giulini/VPO 1988Posted by Paul S on: 11/20/2024
I struggle to find words adequate to describe Bruckner 9
performed by the VPO, guided by Carlo Maria Giulini in 1988. I think I have to
use the term “Celestial” to conjure the sheer scale and the magnificence of
this symphony. Giulini has a good idea of how he wants the symphony to sound,
and the VPO delivers for him, Big Time. It is very much a matter of power and
scale here, but it also involves the voicing of ever-shifting ensembles that
continuously range up and down the frequency/sound spectrum, loud to soft and
back with no hesitation, and I am sure it is a real exercise for the musicians.
Something wonderful about the performance to me is that the musicians are so
adept that they never sound strained or show-y, but the symphony just sort of
appears continuously out of the sky (Celestial). People complain about DG
sound, but the sound and atmosphere of the live performance are well captured
here, and it does not diminish the important spiritual nature of this symphony.
Run, don’t walk to get a copy of this.
Paul S
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