Day 66: Symphony No. 5 in B Flat Major (Chailly)

Just wanted to let everyone know about a very cool Facebook group devoted to Anton Bruckner, which you can find here. It’s a robust group, with many active members, people who are passionate about the group’s namesake, as well as music in general. Check them out. Now, on to our regularly scheduled program… This morning’s … [Read more…]

Day 65: Symphony No. 5 in B Flat Major (Barenboim)

This morning starts a brand new symphony as well as the next 16-day leg of my 144-day journey through the symphonic works of Austrian composer Anton Bruckner (1824-1896). My listening space this morning is Baker Book House, one of the largest and greatest bookstores in the Midwest. Their hours are 7am to 11pm. Let that … [Read more…]

Day 64: Symphony No. 4 in E Flat Major (Wand)

This morning’s conductor of Anton Bruckner’s Symphony No. 4 in E Flat Major (WAB 104), titled “Romantic” by Bruckner himself, is German-born Gunter Wand (1912-2002). Maestro Wand’s name had come up a time or two when I read reviews online of Bruckner’s symphonies. So, when I first started my project – back on October 3rd … [Read more…]

Day 63: Symphony No. 4 in E Flat Major (Tintner)

This morning’s conductor of Anton Bruckner’s Symphony No. 4 in E Flat Major (WAB 104), titled “Romantic” by Bruckner himself, is Georg Tintner (1917-1999), the Austrian-born composer/conductor with whom I was already familiar prior to starting my 144-day exploration of Bruckner’s music. For one thing, I own a couple of recordings conducted by Tintner. Plus, … [Read more…]

Day 62: Symphony No. 4 in E Flat Major (Solti)

This morning’s conductor of Anton Bruckner’s Symphony No. 4 in E Flat Major (WAB 104), titled “Romantic” by Bruckner himself, is Hungarian-born Sir Georg Solti (1912-1997), an artist with a long and noteworthy career. I provided a lengthy bio of Sir Georg on Day 46 of my 144-day exploration. If you want to know about … [Read more…]

Day 61: Symphony No. 4 in E Flat Major (Skrowaczewski)

This morning’s conductor of Anton Bruckner’s Symphony No. 4 in E Flat Major (WAB 104), titled “Romantic” by Bruckner himself, is Stanislaw Skrowaczewski (1923-), the famed Polish-born artist who even has a web site with a cool name: Seeking The Infinite, which is also the title of a biography about him. You can find it … [Read more…]

Day 60: Symphony No. 4 in E Flat Major (Rogner)

This morning’s conductor of Anton Bruckner’s Symphony No. 4 in E Flat Major (WAB 104), titled “Romantic” by Bruckner himself, is Heinz Rogner (1929-2001), who was born in Leipzig, Germany. I have never heard a performance conducted by Heinz Rogner. This is my first. From his bio on Wikipedia: From 1958 to 1962, Rögner was … [Read more…]

Day 59: Symphony No. 4 in E Flat Major (Paternostro)

This morning’s conductor of Anton Bruckner’s Symphony No. 4 in E Flat Major (WAB 104), titled “Romantic” by Bruckner himself, is Vienna-born Roberto Paternostro (1957?-), another person about whom I knew nothing and of whom I had never heard until I started this project. And, truth be told, still know very little about since there’s … [Read more…]

Day 58: Symphony No. 4 in E Flat Major (Masur)

My “office” this morning. Back at the grocery store cafeteria. My view features a group of older guys – a couple of whom were using an iPad and detachable keyboard set-up – kvetching about the world. This morning’s conductor of Anton Bruckner’s Symphony No. 4 in E Flat Major (WAB 104), titled “Romantic” by Bruckner … [Read more…]

Day 57: Symphony No. 4 in E Flat Major (Maazel)

This morning’s conductor of Anton Bruckner’s Symphony No. 4 in E Flat Major (WAB 104), titled “Romantic” by Bruckner himself, is American Lorin Maazel (1930-2014), a person about whom I knew nothing and, in fact, of whom I had never heard until I started this 144-day project. I encountered Mr. Maazel three times previously: On … [Read more…]