Bruckner: Symphony No. 3, "Wagner Symphony" Anima Eterna & Pablo Heras-Casado

• Anton Bruckner (1824 - 1896): Symphony No. 3 in D Minor, WAB 103 "Wagner Symphony" (1873 Version):
• 1 Bruckner: Symphony No. 3 in D Minor, WAB 103 "Wagner Symphony" (1873 Version): Ia. Gemäßigt, misterioso [Bars 1-122] 03:31
• 2 Bruckner: Symphony No. 3 in D Minor, WAB 103 "Wagner Symphony" (1873 Version): Ib. Gemäßigt, misterioso [Bars 123-299] 05:20
• 3 Bruckner: Symphony No. 3 in D Minor, WAB 103 "Wagner Symphony" (1873 Version): Ic. Gemäßigt, misterioso [Bars 300-459] 04:30
• 4 Bruckner: Symphony No. 3 in D Minor, WAB 103 "Wagner Symphony" (1873 Version): Id. Gemäßigt, misterioso [Bars 460-561] 03:23
• 5 Bruckner: Symphony No. 3 in D Minor, WAB 103 "Wagner Symphony" (1873 Version): Ie. Gemäßigt, misterioso [Bars 562-746] 05:34
• 6 Bruckner: Symphony No. 3 in D Minor, WAB 103 "Wagner Symphony" (1873 Version): IIa. Adagio. Feierlich [Bars 1-64] 04:00
• 7 Bruckner: Symphony No. 3 in D Minor, WAB 103 "Wagner Symphony" (1873 Version): IIb. Adagio. Feierlich [Bars 65-88] 01:24
• 8 Bruckner: Symphony No. 3 in D Minor, WAB 103 "Wagner Symphony" (1873 Version): IIc. Adagio. Feierlich [Bars 89-160] 04:32
• 9 Bruckner: Symphony No. 3 in D Minor, WAB 103 "Wagner Symphony" (1873 Version): IId. Adagio. Feierlich [Bars 161-223] 02:58
• 10 Bruckner: Symphony No. 3 in D Minor, WAB 103 "Wagner Symphony" (1873 Version): IIe. Adagio. Feierlich [Bars 224-278] 04:19
• 11 Bruckner: Symphony No. 3 in D Minor, WAB 103 "Wagner Symphony" (1873 Version): III. Scherzo. Ziemlich schnell 06:17
• 12 Bruckner: Symphony No. 3 in D Minor, WAB 103 "Wagner Symphony" (1873 Version): IVa. Finale. Allegro [Bars 1-159] 03:27
• 13 Bruckner: Symphony No. 3 in D Minor, WAB 103 "Wagner Symphony" (1873 Version): IVb. Finale. Allegro [Bars 160-309] 03:25
• 14 Bruckner: Symphony No. 3 in D Minor, WAB 103 "Wagner Symphony" (1873 Version): IVc. Finale. Allegro [Bars 310-467] 02:47
• 15 Bruckner: Symphony No. 3 in D Minor, WAB 103 "Wagner Symphony" (1873 Version): IVd. Finale. Allegro [Bars 468-599] 02:38
• 16 Bruckner: Symphony No. 3 in D Minor, WAB 103 "Wagner Symphony" (1873 Version): IVe. Finale. Allegro [Bars 600-764] 03:02
• Total Runtime 01:01:07

Info for Bruckner: Symphony No. 3, "Wagner Symphony"

Following on their recording of the Fourth, hailed for its fresh approach, Pablo Heras-Casado and Anima Eterna pursue their exploration of Bruckner with his Third Symphony. In its tougher, more daring original version of 1873, the ‘Wagner Symphony’ reveals a man on fire, still free from all self-censorship. This radical reading, featuring period instruments, is carried along with an infectious, boundless energy.

In the autumn of 1872, Anton Bruckner began work on his Symphony No. 3 in D minor, which, after its completion the following year, he offered for dedication, together with the Symphony No. 2 in C minor, to the idolised Richard Wagner during a visit to Bayreuth, who chose the 'Third', which was then also "dedicated to him in deepest reverence". However, the only "Wagner symphony" is the "1873 version", which still contains all the allusions to, reminiscences of and quotations from the works of its dedicatee, who was thus able to recognise himself in the symphonic reflection of his oeuvre that Bruckner supposedly reproached him with, but failed to realise that it was rather a deliberate appropriation of specific elements of his musical language by his admirer.

Bruckner's musical obeisance to the "dearly beloved immortal master" is combined with two of Wagner's compositions: the Faust Overture in D minor, from which Bruckner took a motif that he used in the final movement of his String Quintet in F major, composed in 1878/79, and the settings of five of Mathilde Wesendonck's poems, which became known as the "Wesendonck-Lieder", two of which, Im Treibhaus and Träume, Wagner explicitly described as a "study for 'Tristan und Isolde'", an opera for whose premiere Bruckner travelled to Munich in 1865.

“Simply carrying on a tradition, without thinking about it, kills art and is a sign of intellectual laziness. You have to leave some room for uncertainty. Being able to surprise yourself is an enormously important element of creativity. Our version of Bruckner’s Symphony No. 3 sounds more transparent than what you’re used to, with a certain lightness in the sound, but not in the message.” (Pablo Heras-Casado)

Anima Eterna Brugge
Pablo Heras-Casado, conductor

Pablo Heras-Casado
enjoys an unusually varied and broad-ranging career, encompassing the great symphonic and operatic repertoire, historically informed performances, and contemporary scores. A musical character best reflected by the quality of the long-term relationships nurtured with prestigious orchestras around the world, he continues to develop new connections and exciting programming each year.

In great demand as guest conductor, he regularly appears in Europe with the Philharmonia and London Symphony orchestras, Orchestre de Paris, Münchner Philharmoniker, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Staatskapelle Berlin, Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich and Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, amongst numerous others. He has also conducted the Berliner and Wiener Philharmoniker, the Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra, while in North America he is seen with the symphony orchestras of San Francisco, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Minnesota, Philadelphia, the Los Angeles Philharmonic or the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal. Heras-Casado is currently Principal Guest Conductor at Teatro Real in Madrid and was Principal Conductor of Orchestra of St. Luke’s in New York between 2011 and 2017, having performed at Carnegie Hall and recorded together.

He enjoys a fruitful collaboration with Freiburger Barockorchester, featuring extensive touring and recording projects, including appearances at Mostly Mozart Festival at Lincoln Center, Festival d'Aix-en-Provence, BBC Proms and Het Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, as part of a residency as Spotlight Artist of the NTR Matinee series of the historic hall. Recently he developed a close partnership with Verbier Festival and was Director of the Granada Festival since 2017.

Booklet for Bruckner: Symphony No. 3, "Wagner Symphony"