BBC Proms: Bruckner's 5th symphony.

Orchestra: Berliner Philharmoniker

Conductor: Kiril Petrenko

Conductor: Owain Park

 

This concert was a performance of Bruckner’s work showing his talents to the full. It highlighted his religious devotion; as heard in the three choral motifs and the towering 5^th symphony.

The BBC singers started the concert with the three stunning choral motets; Os Justi, Locus ist and Christus factus est. The simplicity of the human voice, the exquisite highs and lows of emotion echoing in the hall, all this transports one back into the transept of a medieval cathedral. These motets were sung beautifully by the BBC singers, their voices lyrical and resonant, in praise of God. Just heavenly and sublime, a tremendous contrast to what was about to come.

 

Bruckner’s 5^th Symphony in four movements. The whole orchestra brings the first movement alive from its modest introduction; then moving into to a swell of violins with the wind section high and crisp.  The middle drops into quiet contemplation then sudden eruptions of sound with the thunder of mighty drums. There is a wonderful use of brief periods of silence which serve to heighten your expectation of a new journey.

 

The second movement slows the world, like staring out of a window at the rain, the violins and cellos pluck their way through the steady drops. The sway of the orchestra gradually rises only to fall back to a solemn rhythm and so it runs, the music tranquil then, almost tentatively, climbing to a crescendo. The end of the movement fading gently energy spent.

 

The 3^rd movement has life and renewed joy. The orchestra lightens the music is full of playful motifs which, like a child, run barefoot in the grass. There is dancing as well in the style of an Austrian waltz which pirouettes around the quieter interludes which end the movement.

 

The final movement brings a gradual unfolding of tone as the dreamlike strings wash against the shore. The whole orchestra moving towards the denouement of the symphony through sweet contemplation then louder until the brass reaches a zenith of majestic triumph along with a thunder of drums, then silence. The end of a magical performance, Bruckner at his best played by the wonderful Berlin Philmoniker.

Mike Aburrow