[ Deutsche Grammophon / 2 CD ]
Release Date: Friday 26 February 2021
DG announces the release of Andris Nelsons and the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig's performance of Bruckner's Symphonies Nos. 2 & 8, coupled with Wagner's Meistersinger Prelude. The Orchestra and the Latvian Maestro recently announced the extension of their acclaimed partnership until 2027.
"In this symphony, Bruckner has formulated everything very clearly: the wonderful themes are clearly separated from each other by general pauses, and yet the result is a great whole. It is astonishing that this work is so rarely performed - in fact it is an ideal introduction to the cosmos of Bruckner's Symphony", says Gewandhaus Kapellmeister Andris Nelsons about the second symphony. Bruckner himself called his Eighth a "mystery". Andris Nelsons has much to gain from this: "Bruckner penetrated here, especially in the slow movement, into regions that were beyond the reach of other composers. The unity of the enormous work is also a miracle. The magnificent final set - the last that Bruckner was able to complete - contributes to this".
"These performances are persuasive and superbly executed, with sound quality second to none. Balance and dynamic range can't be faulted, and documentation is respectable." MusicWeb recommended
Anton Bruckner:
Symphony No. 2 in C Minor, WAB 102 - Ed. William Carragan
Symphony No. 8 in C Minor, WAB 108 - Ed. Leopold Nowak
Richard Wagner
Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, WWV 96: Prelude