LPO / Jurowski / Vogt

‘Das kecke Beserl’ Anton Bruckner called his First Symphony – ‘the saucy little besom’ in a literal translation that remains a wholly inadequate reflection of the symphony’s impish charm and bold impetuosity. Yes, Bruckner’s First was no cautious water-testing, but a statement made loud and clear enough to herald one of the greatest symphonic careers, as witness the work’s daring, dashing final chapter. Before Beethoven’s epic Emperor Concerto comes a veritable sculpture in sound by Matthias Pintscher, unquestionably one of the most individual and ear-enchanting composers currently at work. He describes his multi-hued, intimate-yet-broad music as suggesting ‘an imaginary theatre’; his powerful Towards Osiris raises the curtain on this concert.