Bruckner: Symphony No. 6 in A Major, WAB 106 BBC Philharmonic Orchestra & Juanjo Mena

• Anton Bruckner (1824 - 1896): Symphony No. 6 in A Major, WAB 106:
• 1 Bruckner: Symphony No. 6 in A Major, WAB 106: I. Majestoso - Bedeutend langsamer 17:10
• 2 Bruckner: Symphony No. 6 in A Major, WAB 106: II. Adagio. Sehr feierlich 20:22
• 3 Bruckner: Symphony No. 6 in A Major, WAB 106: III. Scherzo. Nicht schnell 07:59
• 4 Bruckner: Symphony No. 6 in A Major, WAB 106: IV. Finale. Bewegt, doch nicht zu schnell 14:01
• Total Runtime 59:32

Info for Bruckner: Symphony No. 6 in A Major, WAB 106

Considered by some to be the ‘Cinderella’ of his symphonies, the Sixth Symphony of Anton Bruckner was composed in 1879 – 81. It may well demonstrate a reaction to the severe criticism of the first Viennese performance, in 1877, of his Third Symphony, which Eduard Hanslick described as ‘a vision of how Beethoven’s Ninth befriends Wagner’s Walküre and ends up being trampled under her horses’ hoofs’. Much the shortest of his mature symphonies, the Sixth also reverts to a more classical form than its predecessors.

This recording was made in 2012, during the first season of Juanjo Mena as Chief Conductor of the BBC Philharmonic, and just a month before their acclaimed performance of the work at the BBC Proms. Classical Source commented: ‘Mena didn’t miss a trick and the result for the whole symphony was a revelation, and you don’t get many of those. This was a thrilling, delightful performance

BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Juanjo Mena, conductor

Juanjo Mena
has been Chief Conductor of the BBC Philharmonic for the past five seasons, with highlights including concerts both in Manchester and at the BBC Proms, several acclaimed recordings and five worldwide tours. He has been Artistic Director of the Bilbao Symphony Orchestra, Chief Guest Conductor of the Orchestra del Teatro Carlo Felice, Genoa, and Principal Guest Conductor of the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra. He has recently been appointed Principal Conductor of the Cincinnati May Festival.

He has worked with many prestigious European orchestras such as the Berlin, London, Rotterdam and Oslo Philharmonic Orchestras, Orchestre National de France, Orchestra Filarmonica della Scala, Milan, Münchner Rundfunk Orchester and the Swedish Radio Orchestra. He has also conducted most of the leading orchestras in the United States, including Chicago, Boston, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestras, New York and Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestras, and the Cleveland Orchestra.

Future highlights include his debut with the National Symphony Orchestra, Washington and return visits to the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Danish National Symphony Orchestra and the London Philharmonic Orchestra. He has made several recordings with the BBC Philharmonic, including works by Ginastera, Pierné, de Falla, Montsalvatge, Weber and Turina which have gained excellent reviews from the specialist music press. He has also recorded a critically acclaimed rendering of Messiaen’s Turangalîla Symphony with the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra.

Booklet for Bruckner: Symphony No. 6 in A Major, WAB 106