Bruckner revised his Third Symphony more than any other: There are three manuscript versions, two published versions from within his lifetime, a separate manuscript of the Adagio, and surviving revision fragments from 1874, 1875, and 1876.  In its first version (here recorded), it is Bruckner’s longest and most overtly Wagnerian symphony. When Brucknerian extraordinaire Robert Simpson got to study Nowak’s edition of this version in 1977, he threw his hitherto held opinions overboard and declared it an “achievement… progressively maimed in successive versions.” As part of this completist cycle, Markus Poschner will present the work in all states of pruning, but this is the obvious point to start at.

#bruckner24 – ein gemeinsamen Projekt von Bruckner Orchester Linz, Radio-Symphonieorchester Wien und dem Label Capriccio unter der Leitung von Markus Poschner, das bis 2024 alle Sinfonien Anton Bruckners in allen Fassungen vorlegen wird.
Bruckner Symphony #3 | C8086 – erschienen 09/2022

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Bruckner’s Third Symphony had always been something of a problem child among Bruckner’s symphonies, from its disastrous first reception (an enthused youthful Gustav Mahler notwithstanding) until well into the 20^th century. In its original form, it is the longest, most Wagnerian of his symphonies – and often considered, rightly or not, the first truly Brucknerian symphony. While some cherish the uncompromising originality of the first version, Bruckner himself wanted the third, much tightened Edition performed, finding it “incomparably better”. It is that final version that is here recorded – and listeners can now easily decide for themselves. 

#bruckner24 – ein gemeinsamen Projekt von Bruckner Orchester Linz, Radio-Symphonieorchester Wien und dem Label Capriccio unter der Leitung von Markus Poschner, das bis 2024 alle Sinfonien Anton Bruckners in allen Fassungen vorlegen wird.
Bruckner Symphony #3 | C8088 – erschienen 03/2024

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By his own reckoning, Bruckner began his career as a professional composer when he was thirty-nine years old. With a mere exercise for a symphony under his belt – the unnumbered one in F minor – he was now ready to write his first true symphony. The world was not. First performed in 1868 in Linz – badly – the work flopped and was put aside until nine years and five symphonies later, when it was gently adjusted. A subsequent performance in 1884 was Bruckner’s »most successful Viennese performance to date« prompting, perplexingly, a thorough revision that would be the 1891 »Vienna« version. This recording uses the unadulterated 1868 »Linz« version.

#bruckner24 – ein gemeinsamen Projekt von Bruckner Orchester Linz, Radio-Symphonieorchester Wien und dem Label Capriccio unter der Leitung von Markus Poschner, das bis 2024 alle Sinfonien Anton Bruckners in allen Fassungen vorlegen wird.
Bruckner Symphony #1 | C8092 – erschienen 01/2024

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