Klemperer's reading of Bruckner's Sixth Symphony has for forty years been considered as one of the classics of the gramophone and will always remain so. Few words to add from me but it will suffice to say that this new remastering brings out the glowing colours of the Kingsway Hall recording in a fantastic way making the performance all the more desirable.
One cannot fail to be thrilled by the cragginess and gaunt loftiness of such a reading that is enshrined in the history of recordings. Comparisons with Karajan, Tintner and Jochum prove instructive but Klemperer always wins through in the end. It is time for the Fifth to be made available on this GROC series although some critics have belittled that recording, although to me that is another monumental pinnacle in the history of Bruckner symphonic recordings.
The overtures are welcome couplings, in fact I always had a soft spot for Klemperer's majestic reading of Gluck's delightful 'Iphigénie en Aulide'. The Humperdinck is a magical portrayal with the NPO strings singing like a gorgeous songbird. Just get your hands on this disc if you want one Klemperer disc in your collection!
Copyright © 2004, Gerald Fenech