Bruckner: Symphony No. 9 in Bloomington, MN

The bicentennial of
Anton Bruckner
's birth in 1824 brought with it a host of new recordings of his symphonies, giving hearers the chance to really think them through. This one from conductor
Paavo Järvi
and the
Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich
has a distinctive approach that merits consideration. The
Symphony No. 9 in D minor
is perhaps even more troublesome interpretively than
Bruckner
's other symphonies. Was it unfinished?
didn't seem to think so, for he sketched out a finale; many of those sketches were lost. Then, he said that his
Te Deum
could be used as a finale in the event -- sadly confirmed -- that he died before finishing the work. Both
Järvi
have long experience with
; the
Tonhalle-Orchester
, under
Richard Strauss
, gave Swiss premieres of
symphonies, and the players know this music well enough to respond well to a conductor.
's reactions to the work are especially interesting. He does not add the
of any of the other completions that exist, but in comparison with his earlier recording of the work with the
Frankfurt Radio Symphony
, his final Adagio is nearly four minutes slower.
clearly does not hear the Adagio as a "farewell to life," and his pulse-heavy readings of the first two movements support his overall vision. In
's hands, this truly is an unfinished symphony. The live recording seems to match
's exploratory spirit and the particular quality of uncertainty in this work. There are other strong recordings of the
Ninth
, but
fans, as well as lovers of the work, may well wish to immerse themselves in this one. ~ James Manheim