Bruckner: Symphony No. 7

by Lahav Shani, Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra

Overview

Many Bruckner symphony performances stretch the orchestra to the limit to emphasize the composer's vast orchestral canvases. Others milk the emotional extremes with Mahlerian histrionics. Young conductor Lahav Shani -- settled in with the Rotterdam Philharmonic for five years when this recording appeared in 2023 -- takes a third approach, one that relies on the Classical strain that is always there in Bruckner. His interpretations are deliberate, logically developing, and organic. Here, in the Symphony No. 7 in E major, he is about five minutes faster than the average. Shani is especially strong in the outer movements. In the 20-minute opening movement, the noble opening theme sings, and it leads into the gradually building material of the rest of the movement naturally, inevitably. The finale, as close to cheerful as Bruckner ever got, is beautifully controlled, with its Haydn-esque qualities on full display. There will always be disagreements about Bruckner, and to these ears, the full impact of the Wagner tubas in the slow movement doesn't quite come out, and the Rotterdam Philharmonic, while it responds with great agility to Shani's ideas, is not the Vienna Philharmonic. However, Shani's recordings in Rotterdam have announced the arrival of a major new conducting talent, and this one is no exception. ~ James Manheim

Product Details

Release Date:	09/29/2023
Label:	Warner Classics
UPC:	5054197619663
Rank:	32188

Tracks

1. Symphony No. 7 in E WAB 107~I. Allegro moderato
2. Symphony No. 7 in E WAB 107~II. Adagio. Sehr feierlich und sehr langsam
3. Symphony No. 7 in E WAB 107~III. Scherzo: Sehr schnell
4. Symphony No. 7 in E WAB 107~IV. Finale: Bewegt, doch nicht schnell

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Lahav Shani   Primary Artist,Conductor
Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra   Primary Artist,Orchestra

Technical Credits

Reinis Bagats   Assistant Engineer
Wirre de Vries   Technical Support,Logistics
Jurgen Nab   Studio Manager
Eduardus Lee   Photography,Cover Photo
Karel Bruggeman   Balance Engineer,Engineer
Michiel Cleij   Liner Notes
Alain Lanceron   Executive Producer
George Wiegel   Executive Producer
Daniel Fesquet   Liner Note Translation
Erdo Groot   Recording Producer,Mastering,Editing,Mixing
Marco Borggreve   Photography
Anne Schneider   Liner Note Translation
Paul Spencer   Design
Jette Straub   Liner Notes
Anton Bruckner   Composer