Andris Nelsons continues his Bruckner cycle with Symphonies 6 & 9. The lesser known Sixth Symphony is remarkably concise in character, at least for Brucknerian standards. Which does not alter the fact that it has a beautiful broad singing Adagio. This Adagio is said to have been inspired by the passion plays in Oberammergau of 1880. During that summer Bruckner also paid a visit to his idol
… Wagner, who had taken refuge on the quiet shores of Lake Lucerne. That is why the tone is set at the beginning of this issue with Wagner's Siegfried Idyll. Because if something evokes the homely atmosphere of Wagner's villa, it is this orchestral piece (a birthday greeting for wife Cosima). The orchestra of these performances - the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra - has a reputation to uphold with regard to Bruckner. At one time this was the first orchestra to perform an integral Bruckner cycle (concert season of 1919-1920). (HJ)more