Reissues

Reviewed by Michael Tanner

Bruckner Symphony No. 7

SWR Music SWR19417CD (1958) 59:16 mins

Paul Hindemith’s rapid and largely prosaic account doesn’t compare with most of the innumerable recordings of this great work; to be avoided unless you are in a hurry and just want to hear the notes. ★★ Bruckner Symphony No. 7

SWR Music SWR19410CD (1999) 71:14 mins

A great performance by Kurt Sanderling, wonderfully flexible from the opening notes, with superb balance and warmth of string tone, only lacking the second movement’s climactic cymbal clash. ★★★★★ Mahler Symphony No. 6

SWR Music SWR19416CD (1981) 68:24 mins

A rushed performance of Mahler’s most relentless orchestral work, making the first movement sound like bad Shostakovich, and best in the scherzo, which Kirill Kondrashin rightly places second. ★★★

Suk Asrael Symphony

Krejci Serenata

SWR Music SWR19055CD (1967) 74:54 mins

This is an important disc. Karel Ancˇerl was a great conductor, and his account of Suk’s masterpiece Asrael (Angel of Death) is superb, with a charming makeweight by Krejci to follow.

Do get this. ★★★★★