Anton BRUCKNER
Symphony No.9 in D minor
Psalm 150*
Ruth Welting (Soprano)*
Chicago Symphony Chorus*
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by Daniel Barenboim
Eloquence 469 667-2
[69.26]
Crotchet
This Bruckner Ninth from the complete cycle by Daniel Barenboim and the Chicago
Symphony Orchestra on DG was recorded in 1976, three years after the Fourth
Symphony that is reissued simultaneously on Eloquence and
also reviewed this month. A better prospect
for bargain collectors because in those three years Barenboim seems to have
developed and grown both as a conductor and a Brucknerian. He is more flexible
in the first movement than he was in the Fourth, for example, but not so
much that he undermines the basic tensile strength that is needed in this
movement which can, on occasions, sprawl and Barenboim certainly avoids that
happening. I did rather feel that in the second movement Barenboim couldn't
quite make up his mind whether to go for grandeur or brutality and so falls
between the two. The main pounding rhythm surely needs a touch more weight
but the strange little Trio section certainly finds him responding well to
its change of mood. Most impressive of all, however, is the last movement
where Barenboim and the orchestra bring an impressive level of concentration
and, when necessary, heaven-storming power amid the spiritual repose with
only the final dissonant climax lacking the shocking power of some other
versions. The sound recording is, as ever with this cycle, very wide in dynamics
and a little "toppy", especially in the brass. Generally I felt a little
more involved with the performance than I did with the Fourth. The strings
are especially well reproduced and as they respond lyrically to Barenboim's
direction this is a considerable plus. He also manages to convey a good amount
of inner string harmonies, violas and cellos especially, which when taken
with a much more subtle response from the brass department here than in the
Fourth makes the playing more distinguished too.
Even though it occupies less than nine minutes Psalm 150 is more than just
a makeweight on this disc. This is a grand and fervent piece that Barenboim
and his forces treat with all the care they might lavish on one of the great
symphonies, and the choral singing is magnificent.
As with the Fourth, in this price range the version by Georg Tintner on Naxos
(8.554268) remains the one to have for getting much deeper under the skin
of the symphony. But Barenboim's Chicago performance is a welcome bargain
alternative for those who want to hear one of the world's crack ensembles
in the symphony and who might also need Psalm 150 in their collections.
Reviewer
Tony Duggan
