Not full of drama but full of life: Blomstedt's Bruckner 8 in Bamberg

By Alexander Hall, 14 November 2020

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“as though all earthly burdens had been cast aside and the spirit was able to float free”

Reviewed at Konzerthalle Bamberg: Joseph Keilberth Saal, Bamberg on 13 November 2020

Bruckner, Symphony no. 8 in C minor, WAB 108

Bamberg Symphony

Herbert Blomstedt, Conductor

Hrůša and the Bamberg Symphony with Bomsori Kim in Seoul

SangKwon Lee, 1st June

Tradition reborn with thrilling clarity: Jakub Hrůša’s Bambergers light up Seoul: Wagner’s shimmering overture, Bomsori Kim’s impassioned Bruch, and a lucid yet explosive Beethoven Seventh.

****1

Hrůša and the Bamberg Symphony bring Brahms and Dvořák to Edinburgh

Roy Westbrook, 7th August

Brahms and Dvořák were colleagues, rivals and friends... and the Bamberg Symphony can lay claim to both.

****1

Hrůša, Grimaud and the Bamberg Symphony dazzle at Carnegie Hall

Susan Stempleski, 24th April

In his Carnegie Hall debut, the young Czech conductor leads a meaty and memorable program of Brahms and Wagner, with joined by Hélène Grimaud for Robert Schumann’s sole Piano Concerto.

*****

Hrůša and the Bambergers find the measure of the Mahlerian universe

Tristan Labouret, 16th January

Visiting the Philharmonie de Paris, the Bavarian orchestra and their chief conductor deliver a legendary Mahler 9.

*****

Dancing with history: Bamberg Symphony at Dvořák’s Prague

Frank Kuznik, 21st September

The Bamberg Symphony returns to its roots with Jakub Hrůša conducting high-energy gems from the Czech repertoire.

****1

Daniel Harding and the Bamberg Symphony give Schumann his due

Cameron Kelsall, 4th March

Despite extraordinary legato singing and transparent text work, Christian Gerharer offered an oddly mannered interpretation of the Rückert-Lieder.

***11

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Alexander Hall

Alexander Hall divides his time between London and Hamburg, where he had a career in academic administration and teaching. He reviews for Bachtrack and Opera Today, and has also reviewed for Classical Source. A connoisseur of the great orchestras of the world, his musical memories stretch back to Karajan/Berlin Phil, Mravinsky/Leningrad Phil, Bernstein/Vienna Phil, and he has seen most of the great conductors from the past, including Böhm, Klemperer, Kubelik, Ormandy and Szell.