Philharmonie Festiva, Gerd Schaller - Bruckner 9 (2026) [Hi-Res]

Tracklist

01. Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, WAB 109 (Completed by Gerd Schaller): I. Feierlich, Misterioso (Live at the Former Cistercian Abbey Church Ebrach, 09/01/2024)
02. Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, WAB 109 (Completed by Gerd Schaller): II. Scherzo. Bewegt, lebhaft - Trio. Schnell (Live at the Former Cistercian Abbey Church Ebrach, 09/01/2024)
03. Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, WAB 109 (Completed by Gerd Schaller): III. Adagio. Langsam, feierlich (Live at the Former Cistercian Abbey Church Ebrach, 09/01/2024)
04. Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, WAB 109 (Completed by Gerd Schaller): IV. Finale. Bewegt, doch nicht zu schnell (Live at the Former Cistercian Abbey Church Ebrach, 09/01/2024)

With a finale movement supplemented and completed by Gerd Schaller based on original sources. Anton Bruckner left behind only sketches for the fourth movement of his Ninth Symphony. Gerd Schaller is releasing his third recording of the symphony in the version he completed; in fact, he is conducting a revised version of his original score. The result is striking in its modernity, yet sounds remarkably familiar.

“It seemed impossible to me to reconstruct a hypothetical musical masterpiece by a genius like Anton Bruckner; I therefore set myself the goal of creating a completion—as authentic as possible and grounded in Bruckner’s late style—based on a comprehensive overview of all existing fragments, adopting a deliberately historicizing approach.”

“Throughout the decades I spent engaging with Bruckner’s works—both theoretically and practically (as a conductor)—I always regretted that none of these fascinating sketches and ideas would ever be heard, simply because they had not been left in a performable state. Yet, before I undertook my own completion of the final movement, I naturally had to ask myself: would it not be presumptuous to attempt to ‘complete,’ in a sense, a masterpiece like Bruckner’s Ninth? Ultimately, it was re-engaging with the Ninth Symphony in preparation for a performance that provided the decisive impetus: I decided to undertake the task of completing it.” (Gerd Schaller)