Austrian composer Anton Bruckner was devoutly catholic and, despite critics being especially harsh (and petty) toward his early music, had faith that his unique musical voice was a gift from God. “They want me to write differently. Certainly I could do, but I must not. God has given me, of all people, this talent. It is to Him that I must give account.”
Conductor Manfred Honeck believes that too many conductors interpret Bruckner in stereotypical ways. Paraphrased from an article in Gramophone, Honeck notes that because Bruckner was an organist, many conductors try to make his music sound like a church organ. He was religious, so his music is played to sound spiritual, and so on. "I think this is wrong. A mission of mine is to show Bruckner as a whole, as a man who loves to eat, dance, pray, and loves being a professor – to spread the full spectrum of his music."
Premiered when he was 60 years old, Bruckner's 7th was his greatest success. Some critics were still harsh, but audiences and other conductors, including Gustav Mahler, loved it. Released today and filling 66 minutes, a new recording of the Bruckner 7th with Manfred Honeck conducting the Pittsburgh Symphony is already receiving positive reviews for its refreshing insights. This new recording is today's Midday Masterpiece.
