This year, the St. Florian Bruckner Days have dared to perform the concluding symphony concert – this time Bruckner’s first in the Viennese version and the “Te Deum” – twice in the Stiftsbasilika St. Florian. The experiment was a success, the very well-attended Friday was surpassed by an almost sold-out Saturday (around 700 visitors).
This risk was absolutely justified in terms of quality. The Altomonte Orchestra, a motley mix of soloists and orchestral musicians from almost all over Europe, and its conductor Rémy Ballot presented themselves harmoniously and confidently after a week of rehearsals.
Demanding Adagio
Anton Bruckner’s Viennese version of the first symphony – which the master had adapted 25 years after the “Linz version” in 1891 – is technically demanding for orchestras. Rémy Ballot, who had rehearsed Bruckner’s original manuscripts in the State Library for the two concerts, visibly pushed his physical limits. It was only in the very subtle, calm second movement (Adagio) that the Frenchman and his orchestra were challenged to maintain the necessary tension. The rest was pure Bruckner, rising and falling, finally monumental wind instruments – everything was round and harmonious. Ultimately, the Altomonte Orchestra under its house conductor can be attested that it has long since developed its own Bruckner sound.
Anton Bruckner’s “Te Deum”, which the composer described as the “pride of my life” after its completion in 1881, was a triumph in the second part of the concert evening. The orchestra and hard choir (directed by Alexander Koller) surpassed themselves. The soloists – Regina Riel (soprano), Gerda Lischka (alto), Michael Wagner (bass) and Markus Miesenberger (tenor) were perfectly coordinated. Only Markus Miesenberger had a slight drop in vocal volume.
The Estonian violinist Mari-Liis Uibo played the lovely violin sequences from the pulpit. An innovative approach that Rémy Ballot took up when studying the original sheet music in the National Library: Bruckner had placed this violin part above the remaining notes.
In the coming year, according to orchestra director Thomas Wall, two symphony evenings will again be offered. In 2023, Bruckner’s “Zerote” and Psalm 146 will be heard.
- Concert: First Symphony and “Te Deum” by Anton Bruckner; Altomonte Orchestra conducted by Rémy Ballot, Brucknertage St. Florian, August 19
Source: Nachrichten
