That Tahra’s release
(1997) of Eugen Jochum’s concert recording on 4 December 1986 of Bruckner 5 is
a memorable event is beyond every Brucknerites’ doubts. Lately Altus, using
the sound source from Tahra, has released this recording in LP format
(TALTLP005) in Japan. The artistic value of this performance has been
thoroughly discussed by reviewers over the years. Suffice it to say that it is
one of my favourite Bruckner 5 recordings. There are some interesting points about
this famous recording however.
1) Tahra states that it is his “very last performance”, but unfortunately
it is not exactly true. His last performance in Amsterdam is the concert 2 days
later on 6 December 1986 of the same music: Bruckner 5. Unfortunately this last
concert was not recorded.
2) By that time, Jochum has performed the Bruckner Fifth 21 times with the
Concertgebouw Orchestra.
3) In his last concert, he performed the whole of the Finale again for the
encore!
4) In the finale of Bruckner 5, Eugen
Jochum carried over but modified slightly Schalk's practice of augmenting the
brass section towards the end of the movement with 11 extra brass instruments
placed separately in a raised position behind the orchestra, often in the organ
loft. He supported the brass with 11 additional instruments from the beginning
of the Chorale (bar 583), using 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones and 1
bass tuba. These were affectionately called the "11 Apostles" as the
twelfth, Judas, was not included. Jochum placed them differently from Schalk’s original
practice. He placed them in the orchestra just behind or beside the original
brass players, as he thought placing them in the organ loft would have an
effect too theatrical. The idea of this practice is to make sure that the
divine ending will not otherwise become lacklustre or feeble due to fatigue of
the brass players already by the beginning of the Chorale.
Eugen Jochum’s last
concert was in January 1987 when he conducted the Munich Philharmonic on
Bruckner 9. This concert was broadcast. At that time the Munich Philharmonic
was very much Celibidache’s orchestra, and with their affinity to Bruckner, how
Jochum has conducted them in that concert should be every Brucknerite’s wish to
hear it.
In about 3 weeks' time,
on Halloween, Altus will reissue Eugen Jochum’s Tahra Bruckner recordings with
the Concertgebouw Orchestra in a 10-LP set (TALTLP007). It will include the 4
December 1986 Bruckner 5 and thus duplicate TALTLP005. The others included in
this LP set are Bruckner 4 (16 January 1975), Bruckner 6 (2 November 1980),
Bruckner 7 (15 March 1970) and Bruckner 8 (26 Sep 1984). Whether it is intended
or not, Altus timed its release one day before Jochum’s birthday on 1 November.
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| Tahra's first release of these recordings: Bruckner 4, 6, 7 & 8 in a box set shared with his brother Georg-Ludwig in 1996; Bruckner 5 singly one year later. |
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| Cover art of TALTLP005 (2-LP set) |
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| Cover art of TALTLP007, a 10-LP set |
