A Listener’s Guide to Bruckner 5

By Marlia Nash

The Berliner Philharmoniker in Hill Auditorium, November 2022.

For the first time in UMS’s 146-year history, Anton Bruckner’s Symphony No. 5 takes center stage. This piece will be performed on November 24 in Hill Auditorium by the legendary Berliner Philharmoniker. This is an exciting opportunity for Ann Arbor to experience this symphony under the baton of chief conductor Kirill Petrenko.

Petrenko, who has gained acclaim for his dynamic interpretations and deep understanding of the symphonic repertoire, is a champion of this monumental work. His extensive experience leading orchestras worldwide and his dedication to bringing both classic and overlooked composers to life make this concert an unmissable experience.

Bruckner composed his Fifth Symphony during an especially difficult period of his life. 

“My life has lost all joy and pleasure,” he famously wrote to a friend at the time.

Yet, from this challenging place, he created one of his most ambitious masterpieces, weaving together a vibrant display of motifs and themes. The symphony culminates in a finale that is both powerful and transformative, echoing the grandeur of Beethoven’s Ninth and the intricate counterpoint of Mozart’s Jupiter Symphony.

This symphony is immense but thorough. It is a challenging piece of repertoire for a musician to perform, mentally and physically. If this is your first time experiencing Bruckner, then hearing the Berliner Philharmoniker is a perfect introduction.

The Berliner Philharmoniker’s performances of this piece this season have already garnered a radiant media spotlight:

“Petrenko’s triumph was making the work’s logic and architecture clear while enhancing its mysteries, its direct access to a brain thinking unlike any of ours… So much in the Fifth is dependent on the brass, and the Berliners were immaculate: each voice came through distinctly, which can be hard when you’re thundering out a chorale and competing with hurrying strings. As the symphony progressed, Petrenko darted about his podium, swinging his arms wide, and he seemed to be enjoying himself. We certainly were. ★★★★★”– The Financial Times

Kirill Petrenko by Monika Rittershaus

On November 24, make sure to arrive at Hill Auditorium with enough time to settle in before the performance begins. You won’t want to miss a moment of this grand symphonic 79 minute journey. There are many details to catch in this expansive piece of repertoire, and this brief listening guide will help you prepare for it.

Introduction: Adagio – Allegro (B♭ major)

The symphony opens with a chilling pizzicato from the cellos and basses, followed by a stirring chorale from the upper strings that may cause you to lean forward in your seat. But Bruckner is known for extreme and sudden dynamic contrast, employing the brass section for powerful chorales very suddenly after a gentle moment. 

“It’s the tone quality that hits you first with the Berlin Philharmonic: like a shot of adrenaline if you’re in the direct firing line of the superb lower brass.” – The Guardian

The brass boldly lead the way, while the woodwinds and strings join in for the full tutti orchestral sound that is uniquely Bruckner. Here is a preview from the Philharmonkier’s recent performance in their Digital Concert Hall: 

In the Allegro section, listen for the violas and cellos taking the lead, transitioning into an overlapping melody with the oboe. The dotted eighth-sixteenth motif unapologetically recurs throughout the movement. The brass provides a stunning blend and balance with every entry, aiding the orchestra into the movement’s breath-taking conclusion. 

Adagio: Sehr langsam (D minor)

The second movement begins gently with pizzicato strings, leading to a haunting yet captivating oboe melody. This is soon joined by a bassoon, creating a beautiful duet filled with tension. As the movement unfolds, it transforms into a charming yet heroic ballad, showcasing a sense of optimism.

Scherzo: Molto vivace (D minor)

The third movement is a scherzo that, unlike its sibling movements, does not start with pizzicato. The strings start in an unrelenting waltz motion that persists until the trio,  which is in a duple meter. 

The trio section is gentle, curious, and hopeful, reminiscent at times of pastoral music with frequent stirring swells in the brass. But it is brief — just about two minutes to be exact. We then return to the beginning of the Scherzo and its beloved triple meter until the very end, creating a symmetrical listen for the audience.

Finale: Adagio – Allegro moderato (B♭ major)

Finally, the fourth movement opens in an adagio fashion similar to the first movement, only this time with a solo clarinet gently interjecting.

Bruckner briefly sends us into the familiar dotted eighth-sixteenth Allegro section from before, but later interrupts himself with the second movement’s creeping oboe melody for just a few bars. The Allegro section returns with the strings repeating our familiar dotted eighth-sixteenth theme to each other, overlapping to create a captivating fugue. This movement is constantly changing as themes come and go before we even realize they have happened.

The final pages of this movement are nothing short of epic; the entire orchestra cries in emotionally complex harmonies that lead to a simple yet bold B-flat major chord.

Don’t miss your chance to witness Bruckner’s Fifth Symphony performed by the Berliner Philharmoniker. It is a work that not only reflects the struggles of its composer but also stands as a testament to resilience and artistic brilliance. Join us for an evening that promises to resonate long after the final note fades.

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