Bruckner: Symphonies Nos 5 & 7

Advantages: A most powerful and unique work in the annals of music
Disadvantages: Will not appeal to the cutesy-cutesy people

...symphonies, the Sixth is also the most classical in terms of form. All the other symphonies (of past and future) contained much more unconventionalities than the Sixth. The First was originally a tone poem turned symphony; no.2 was also more like a very large orchestral and choral symphonic poem; no.3 extended to seven whole movements with a massive choir and soloists to perform roughly five minutes of its 1½-hour length; no.4 featured a solo soprano; no.5 had five movements with progressive tonalities as did no.7 with its two slow movements; no.8 featured unpresedented orchestrations with two full orchestras, three choirs, two children's choirs, soloists, thus earning the name "Symphony of a Thousand"; and no.9 again employed progressive tonalities Mahler so liked to use. No.6 on the other hand features all the traits of the accepted form... Read review

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Advantages: Heroic fifth. Mysrterious sixth.
Disadvantages: None

...Jean Sibelius is striking for his originality and his innovative use of tonal colour in his orchestral compositions. The conductor of this recording of Symphonies Nos 5 & 6, Sir Colin Davies once said, “Nothing else sounds like Sibelius”. The music is indeed unique and distinctive. Jean Christian Sibelius, Finland's greatest composer, was born in 1865 and is best known for his seven symphonies that he wrote between 1899 and 1924. Sibelius felt that music should be pure music and that every note within the music given importance. Sibelius once commented that, “A symphony should be music first and last." His Symphonies, number 5 and 6, recorded on this CD are just that. The two symphonies contrast and compliment each other to produce a magnificence. The fifth is heroic, strong and vivid whilst the sixth is mysterious and radiant yet... Read review

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Advantages: A new way to hear Beethoven
Disadvantages: Surpassed by some later period cycles

...with the fast movements coming off sprightly and enjoyably. It is particularly good to have the first movement introduction taken at a brisker pace than normal for the added sense of authenticity. Only the Adagio could have been slightly slower to proprly bring out the poetic quality of the music, but it still comes off beautifully enough. Not one of the strongest in the set but not bad either. Symphony No.5 in C minor, Op.67 The Fifth Symphony is one of the most exciting of the set. The opening movement has to be the fastest I have ever heard, accentuating the compactness of the movement. The exposition alone takes only about 1:20, with the entire movement clocking in at 6:28. It does make the music perhaps a little too frenetic to come off completely satisfactorily, but there is no denying the excitement and menace of the movement. The rest... Read review

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