Stanislaw Skrowaczewski - Bruckner: 11 Symphonies (2006)

If any composer in the nineteenth century was divinely inspired, it was Anton Bruckner. Born an Austrian Catholic peasant, Bruckner remained an Austrian Catholic peasant even after he had amassed more degrees, diplomas, and certificates than any previous composer. In the symphonies that are his spiritual testament, Bruckner worships his God in immense themes, enormous counterpoint, massive harmonies, and monumental structures. Bruckner may have sometimes doubted himself in the dark nights of his soul, but he never doubted his God and his symphonies are his hymns the glory of God.
Some of the greatest conductors and orchestras in the twentieth century -- Karajan with the Berlin and Solti with the Chicago among them -- have somehow missed Bruckner's spirituality and their recordings of his symphonies were simply superbly performed music. In this cycle of Bruckner's symphonies with Stanislaw Skrowaczewski leading the Saarbrucken Radio Symphony Orchestra, however, Bruckner's belief, his faith, his hope, and his music are all embodied in performances of radiant brilliance and luminous spirituality. In Skrowaczewski's interpretations, the sense of striving, of yearning, of aspiring is everywhere evident from the youthful "Zero" and "Double-Zero" through the first masterpieces of the Fourth and Fifth and climaxing in the awesome Eighth and the apocalyptic Ninth. While the Saarbrucken lacks the Berlin's refined tone and the Chicago's fearsome attack, their performances are polished and powerful and their dedication to the music is second to none. Oehms' digital sound is rich, round, deep, and full.