139.00 PLN

SACD Multi-CH HDCD:

Nr kat.: FR713
Label  : Reference Recordings

Thrilling live performances from the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, in brilliant audiophile sound!

Manfred Honeck
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra

Anton Bruckner is known as a deeply religious composer whose Catholic spirituality is prominent in his music, particularly his later symphonies. However, his Symphony No. 4 in E-flat major ("Romantic") is one of his most secular, most influenced by nature and most popular works. The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and Music Director Manfred Honeck offer a bold new interpretation of this great music, breaking Bruckner out of the strictly interpreted box in which he is often placed. Here, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and Honeck present the 1878/80 version, the same version that was used for the symphony's premiere in 1881.

NEW REVIEW: "A jaw-dropping performance of Anton Bruckner's Symphony No. 4 in E-flat major ("Romantic") that is engrossing and thrilling...Honeck and the musicians of the PSO beautifully imagine the portrait of Bruckner's Fourth Symphony and achieve something even more glorious than what is written on the pages of the score. The result is a compelling, intriguing and truly romantic version of this great symphony." --Henry Schlinger, Culturespot.com

"Two earlier Reference Recordings issues have demonstrated what the Soundmirror engineers can achieve in the Heinz Hall for the Performing Arts, Pittsburgh, but here they have excelled themselves and produced a recording that is quite exceptional in its dynamic range, clarity and spaciousness...Overall Honeck's interpretation could be best described as supple and alive rather than coldly marmoreal...this distinctive, some might say revelatory, account of Bruckner's 4th Symphony should not be missed." --Graham Williams, SA-CD.net

"I can honestly say that Honeck and the superb Pittsburghians have given us a performance in phenomenal—underline that—surround sound that launches this rendition to the absolute top of the pile. The extraordinary caressing of phrases, perfection in the finely-graded chordal building blocks so fundamental to any genuine presentation of this music, and the fearlessness that the conductor displays in his willingness to contradict accepted tradition while still manifesting a healthy respect for it, make this experience one that will not easily be matched any time soon... An essential recording!" --Steven Ritter, Audiophile Audition - complete review

This release is the third in the highly acclaimed "Pittsburgh Live!" series of multi-channel hybrid SACD releases on the FRESH! Series from Reference Recordings. The previous release, "Dvorák/Janácek" (FR-710SACD), has received a Grammy® nomination along with numerous critical accolades.

For more than 119 years, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra has been known for its artistic excellence, a rich history of the world's finest conductors and musicians, and a strong commitment to the Pittsburgh region and its citizens. Past music directors have included many of the greats, including Fritz Reiner (1938-1948), William Steinberg (1952-1976), Andre Previn (1976-1984), Lorin Maazel (1984-1996) and Mariss Jansons (1995-2004). This tradition of outstanding international music directors was furthered in fall 2008, when Austrian conductor Manfred Honeck became music director of the Pittsburgh Symphony.

The orchestra has been at the forefront of championing new American works, and gave the first performance of Leonard Bernstein's Symphony No. 1 "Jeremiah" in 1944. The Pittsburgh Symphony has a long and illustrious history in the areas of recordings and radio concerts. As early as 1936, the Pittsburgh Symphony broadcast on the airwaves coast-to-coast and in the late 1970s it made the groundbreaking PBS series "Previn and the Pittsburgh." The orchestra has received increased national attention since 1982 through network radio broadcasts on Public Radio International, produced by Classical WQED-FM 89.3, which are made possible by the musicians of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.

This release and the entire "Pittsburgh Live!" series are recorded and mastered by the team at Soundmirror, whose outstanding orchestral, solo, opera and chamber recordings have received more than 70 Grammy nominations and awards! Soundmirror has recorded for every major classical record label, now including Reference Recordings.