Bruckner: Symphonies Nos. 5, 7, 8 & 9

Eduard van Beinum's performances of Bruckner were extraordinary in a most inconspicuous way. He never took liberties with the score, did not like to exaggerate, was spontaneous, and always strove to achieve the crucial transitions in Bruckner's work as seamlessly as possible. Bassoonist Brian Pollard who worked with Van Beinum as a member of the Concertgebouw Orchestra, described the sound as 'dark and red, with beautiful russet hues'. Warmth above clarity was, according to Pollard, Van Beinum's first priority. This 4CD set brings together four 1950s Bruckner symphony recordings for Decca and Philips. No. 7 was recorded twice for Decca - the first (acoustic) recording in 1947 and the second (represented in this set) in 1953. Riccardo Chailly described the recording as 'noble through and through'.

By the time Van Beinum and the Concertgebouw came to record Nos. 8 and 9, in 1955 and 1956 respectively, the orchestra had been making recordings for the 'home' label, Philips, for the whole decade. No. 8 was Van Beinum's first recording for Philips. No. 7 has an unusual provenance. It is a live recording made in March 1959, Van Beinum's last Bruckner performance with his orchestra, before his premature death a month later. Urged on by music lovers who had cherished memories of the broadcast, former NCRV broadcasting company employee Cornelius van Zwol started to search for the radio tape which he found just before it as due to be erased. It here receives its first international release on CD. Liner notes are by the Concertgebouw Orchestra and Van Beinum authority Niek Nelissen.