This album includes both an orchestral version performed by the Altomonte Orchester St. Florian and a two-piano version arranged by Dr. Karl Grunsky, reconstructed and adapted by Matthias Giesen and Klaus Laczika.
Composition History
Bruckner began composing his Ninth Symphony in 1887, immediately after finishing his Eighth Symphony, intending it as his final major musical statement.
Instruments
The two-piano recording uses a 1931 Blüthner piano, known for its full bass and singing middle register, and a 1997 Yamaha piano, noted for its treble presence and transparent sound.
Interpretation
The two-piano version on this album aims to recreate the 'workshop atmosphere' of early performances of Bruckner's symphonies, as the composer himself would have heard them.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Anton Bruckner considered his Ninth Symphony, particularly its Adagio, to be his 'farewell to life' and intended it to be the most beautiful work he ever composed.
Compositional Technique
Bruckner's Ninth Symphony is in D minor, a key he consciously chose due to its association with other composers' final works, such as Mozart's Requiem and Beethoven's Ninth Symphony.
Critical Reception
The 1903 premiere of Bruckner's Ninth Symphony used a version heavily altered by Ferdinand Löwe, and it took 30 years for the original text to be performed, which initially faced resistance from audiences.
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