I haven't offered much Bruckner previously, though I am admirer of this composer's unique symphonic style. I possess many different recordings of the symphonies but rather few of the masses since the choices are rather limited and, most cannot compare to Eugen Jochum's benchmark DGG recordings from the 60's. Happily, I came across this old Vox lp from 1953 featuring renowned Viennese choral conductor Ferdinand Grossmann leading the Academy Choir, the Venna Symphony and soloists Dorothea Siebert, Dagmar Herrmann, Erich Majkut, and Otto Wiener in the great Mass No 3 in f.
Ferdinand Grossmann was Vienna's leading choral conductor from before the war and into the 1960's. Director of the famed Vienna Boys Choir, he also founded the Academy Choir and led that group in a whole slew of recordings issued for Vox, Austrian Radio, Philips, and other labels. Importantly, Grossmann was a direct link to he 19th century as he was one of Bruckner's choristers while a boy soprano with the famed Choir Boys. Grossmann enjoyed relating stories of Bruckner, highlighting the gentle and generous way in which he worked with his young choristers. As such, Grossmann's style of interpretation is probably as close to the master's intentions as we will ever get. For that reason alone, this is a vital document.
This performance is generally quite good, the chorus being the strongest partner here. The Vienna Symphony struggles in areas, probably as a result of little, if no rehearsal, and the lack of a firm orchestral hand at the helm. The soloists are competent if not especially virtuosic. The music is, of course powerful and majestic and Grossmann's understanding of this work, based on over 50 years of familiarity with the piece, is beyond reproach. Sound is typical early 50's Vox..you know what I mean.
I think this performance belongs on your shelf, in spite of the performance and sonic limitations.
DOWNLOAD
