Bruckner: Symphony No. 2; Richard Strauss: Der Bürger als Edelmann

Riccardo Muti / Wiener Philharmoniker

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Bruckner: Symphony No. 2; Richard Strauss: Der Bürger als Edelmann Review

by Blair Sanderson

Not widely known as a Bruckner conductor, Riccardo Muti may be signaling a renewed interest in the composer with the recordings released in 2017: a solid CSO Resound issue of the Symphony No. 9 in D minor and this Deutsche Grammophon double CD, which pairs Bruckner's Symphony No. 2 in C minor with Richard Strauss' Der Bürger als Edelmann Suite. Taken from live performances, which were recorded in 2016 at the Salzburg Festival, these works were chosen by Muti to celebrate his 75th birthday, as well as to commemorate the historic connections between the two composers and the Vienna Philharmonic. Yet the program presents obvious stylistic contrasts, chiefly because Bruckner's symphony is an earnest essay cast in his characteristically expansive symphonic form, while Strauss' incidental music for Hugo van Hofmannsthal's German version of the Molière play Le Bourgeois gentilhomme is elegant, concise, and sweetly tuneful. Yet these works reflect different aspects of late Romantic music in Vienna, with Bruckner representing the grand symphonic tradition long associated with the Classical masters, and Strauss providing a counterbalance with the light, sentimental music that flourished in the years before World War I. While this is an unusual match-up, the performances are exceptional for their vitality and clarity, and Muti's interpretations show a deeply sympathetic feeling for Vienna in its glory days.

Track Listing - Disc 1

	Title/Composer	Performer	Time	Stream
1	Applause Recorded Sound	Riccardo Muti / Wiener Philharmoniker	00:24	Spotify Amazon
Symphony No. 2 in C minor WAB 102
2	1. Moderato Anton Bruckner	Riccardo Muti / Wiener Philharmoniker	19:38	Spotify Amazon
3	2. Andante. Feierlich, etwas bewegt Anton Bruckner	Riccardo Muti / Wiener Philharmoniker	15:09	Spotify Amazon
4	3. Scherzo. Mäßig schnell - Trio. Gleiches Tempo Anton Bruckner	Riccardo Muti / Wiener Philharmoniker	06:57	Spotify Amazon
5	4. Finale. Mehr schnell Anton Bruckner	Riccardo Muti / Wiener Philharmoniker	20:56	Spotify Amazon

Track Listing - Disc 2

	Title/Composer	Performer	Time	Stream
1	Applause Recorded Sound	Riccardo Muti / Wiener Philharmoniker	00:26	Spotify Amazon
Der Bürger als Edelmann Suite Op. 60
2	1. Ouvertüre Richard Strauss	Riccardo Muti / Wiener Philharmoniker	04:17	Spotify Amazon
3	2. Menuett Richard Strauss	Riccardo Muti / Wiener Philharmoniker	01:50	Spotify Amazon
4	3. Der Fechtmeister Richard Strauss	Riccardo Muti / Wiener Philharmoniker	01:55	Spotify Amazon
5	4. Auftritt und Tanz der Schneider Richard Strauss	Riccardo Muti / Wiener Philharmoniker	05:21	Spotify Amazon
6	5. Das Menuett des Lully Richard Strauss	Riccardo Muti / Wiener Philharmoniker	02:46	Spotify Amazon
7	6. Courante Richard Strauss	Riccardo Muti / Wiener Philharmoniker	02:45	Spotify Amazon
8	7. Auftritt des Cleonte Richard Strauss	Riccardo Muti / Wiener Philharmoniker	04:28	Spotify Amazon
9	8. Vorspiel zum 2. Aufzug (Intermezzo) Richard Strauss	Riccardo Muti / Wiener Philharmoniker	03:43	Spotify Amazon
10	9. Das Diner Richard Strauss	Riccardo Muti / Wiener Philharmoniker	11:53	Spotify Amazon

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