Bruckner: Symphony No 4 Bernard Haitink

• Anton Bruckner (1824-1896)
• 1 I. Bewegt, nicht zu schnell 20:33
• 2 II. Andante quasi allegretto 15:07
• 3 III. Scherzo: Bewegt 11:11
• 4 IV. Finale: Bewegt, doch nicht zu schnell 22:17
• Total Runtime 01:09:08

Info for Bruckner: Symphony No 4

Bernard Haitink is internationally renowned for his interpretations of Bruckner and is widely recognized as the world’s leading Bruckner conductor.

Bruckner’s Fourth Symphony (‘Romantic’) conjures up visions of mediaeval knights, huntsmen and enchanted woodland, particularly through the prominent use of the horn in the work. One of his most popular pieces, it was treated to many revisions by the composer and this recording features the second version of the 1877/8 Nowak edition (published 1953) with the 1880 Finale.

“the LSO's principal horn here sets down a wonderful opening benchmark for what follows...Haitink's conducting is a masterclass in the art of control while appearing to stand back and let everyone play their best...the whole impressive structure hangs unerringly together...This version easily holds its own with the best.” (Classic FM Magazine)

“The Dutch maestro takes a less energetic approach to the Bruckner Fourth Symphony than is currently fashionable, but there’s a breadth and depth to his live performance with the London Symphony Orchestra that matches the long-limned evolution of the music, and the LSO is in top form.” (Financial Times)

“The finale comes off best, with well-integrated tempi, a patient but impressive initial build-up and very good sound. It's a worthy, well-judged performance but with so much strong competition around (not least from Haitink himself) doesn't quite make the shortlist of top recommendations.” (Gramophone Magazine)

London Symphony Orchestra
Bernard Haitink, conductor

Bernard Haitink
With an international career now spanning six decades, Amsterdam-born Bernard Haitink is one of the most renowned conductors of our time. First engaged by the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra in 1954, Bernard Haitink began his meteoric career in 1956 at the age of just 27, when he substituted for an ailing Carlo Maria Giulini and first conducted the orchestra with whom he would enjoy a long and highly successful collaboration: the Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam. From 1961 to 1988 he was Music Director and Principal Conductor of the orchestra – a position he initially shared with Eugen Jochum. Other positions held by him included Music Director and Principal Conductor of the London Philharmonic Orchestra (1967-1979), of the Glyndebourne Festival Opera (1978-1988), of London's Royal Opera House Covent Garden (1988-2002) and of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (2006- 2010). Bernard Haitink is “Conductor Laureate” of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, “Conductor Emeritus” of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and "Patron" of the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra. Since 1958 he has had a cordial working relationship with the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks: the live recording of Mahler’s Ninth Symphony, published on the BR-KLASSIK label, was awarded the ECHO Klassik 2013 and the “Toblacher Komponierhäuschen” prize. Bernard Haitink has been a Knight of the British Empire since 1977; in 1991 he received the “Erasmus” award, the highest cultural award of the Netherlands; and in 2007 the magazine Musical America named him “Musician of the Year”. He is a Companion of Honour of the United Kingdom and a holder of the Order of the House of Orange-Nassau.

Booklet for Bruckner: Symphony No 4