Bruckner: Symphony No. 7 | Celibidache & the Berlin Philharmonic

A historical, superlative concert: The Berlin Philharmonic performs Anton Bruckner’s Symphony No. 7 in E major (WAB 107) under conductor Sergiu Celibidache in the Konzerthaus Berlin, in the spring of 1992. Rehearsals for the concert were documented in the film ‘The Triumphant Return’ (dir. Wolfgang Becker, 1992).

(00:00) Allegro moderato
(28:09) Adagio
(58:48) Scherzo
(1:11:15) Finale

Following the war, the principal conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic from 1922 to 1945, Wilhelm Furtwängler, was required to submit to the denazification process. The young Sergiu Celibidache thereby became the top orchestra’s interim conductor, from 1945 until 1952. Following that, Furtwängler was once again on the podium. In 1954 the Philharmonic selected not the predestined Celibidache to be Furtwängler’s official successor – but rather Herbert von Karajan. Sergiu Celibidache was so incensed by being passed over that he vowed to never again conduct the famous orchestra. It took 38 years before a collaboration could once again take place: the concert of Bruckner’s Symphony No. 7 happened only at the instigation of the German president at the time, Richard von Weizsäcker. In the intervening years, Celibidache had become an internationally sought-after conductor.

Anton Bruckner's seventh symphony premiered in 1884. The second movement is a piece of funereal music that Bruckner composed in 1883 in response to the death of Richard Wagner. In an homage to Wagner, Bruckner utilized the so-called ‘Wagner tuba’ for the first time, which Wagner had created for his own ‘Der Ring des Nibelungen’ cycle.

Despite its length and the sprawling development of its thematic arcs, Bruckner’s Symphony No. 7 remains to this day one of his most regularly performed works, played in concert houses around the globe.

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[karlhenderson]

5:20 No other conductor brings out the beauty of the counterpoint in the strings here, incredible attention to detail with regard to the 1st and 2nd violin entries, textures are unbelievably transparent. Celidibache seems to sit back here, forgo conducting for a bit, and simply listen with the rest of us to one of the greatest achievements of the human spirit!

[jimthorne]

Discovering Bruckner was a revelation in my life, hearing Bruckner performed by Celibidache was a further revalation!

[АнониМуС-ею]

Here is the wonderful work of the one whom everyone mocked, whom everyone corrected, and who believed everyone, and was not angry with anyone. He just wanted some love and understanding. Children's Soul, God's Soul, Anton. My tear for you friend of my soul.

[cristianlee]

This is stunning! The Adagio conducted by Celibidache is out of this world!

[Scotzie]

He loves every note, every second of this music. You can feel this

[hknavyseals]

Celi回到Berlin ，這時Berliner 發出未所聽到的美聲，每一句都有生命！

[LEMURIAland]

Bruckner and Celibidache - a unity. Telling an untold story beyond time and space . Eternal.

[yong-gilchoi]

I just want to bow down and again. In the finale, what more can I say from the figure of the old master who is exhausted enough to be unable to properly tilt his body!!!! Truly a great artist!!!! He was the greatest conductor never ever again in the human

[voodooprince]

I get shivers using headphones, I cant imagine how it must be to hear the real thing

[kunozeller]

04.09.2024 = 200. Geburtstag von Anton Bruckner. Ich habe mir diese Einspielung mit Celebidache und den Berlinern als Geburtstags-Geschenk gegönnt - auch für mich.
Einfach göttlich, vor allem das Adagio - ein Weg in die Sphären zu Gott. Besser geht es nicht.
Danke allen Beteiligten und der Größe Celebidaches, dass er die Schmach seiner Nichtwahl überwunden hatte, und Dank an den lieben Gott, dass es Bruckner gab/gibt.

[짐머만신]

언젠가 우주선을 타고 지구밖으로 나가게된다면 우주선 창문밖의 수많은 별들을 바라보며 듣고싶은 첼리비다케의 브루크너7번 연주. 그의 음악에는 광활한 우주가 담겨있는것같다.

[albertomarin]

At least once a week I listen to this symphony. The boiling of feelings that it provokes is unique. It is pure poetry turned into music. It is exciting to remember when I have been able to listen to it in a live concert. The Adagio is, in my humble opinion, one of the greatest moments of humanity

[JackKellyUSA]

All things considered, this performance (and recording) deserves a standing ovation.

[amirmn]

Beethoven and Bruckner changed my life. This piece and this performance is one of the best! Than you for sharing.

[emmanuelagudo]

Celibidache's pursuit of the truth is so beautiful.

[amusedic]

There are conductors who use the podium as an aerobic exercise machine and then there was Celi who was THE master at his art even when he couldn't stand up.

[richardwilliams]

The ending of the first movement is exquisite! Because of the slower tempo we are able linger longer in the beautiful notation of Bruckner

[ultradmann]

Celibidache is THE leading reason I love Bruckner's symphonies to this day starting with this symphony being first I heard when he was with the Munich Philharmonic. The Berlin Philharmonic was and still is one of my all time favorite orchestra thanks to here's them growing up sparingly on a local public access channel at the time that would show short classical music clips when I was just starting to absorb classical music. And lucky for me, their were quite a few clips of the BPO being showed. This symphony with my favorite orchestra and one of the great Brucknerian conductors is pretty much a dream come true and I'm glad to at hear and see this. Thank you so much for this upload! <3

[TheStockwell]

In the 1980s, I was living in San Francisco when he gave a performance with the Munich Philharmonic. There was one work on the program: Bruckner Symphony No.4. I "sort of" knew who Celibidache was, but I'd never heard the Fourth Symphony, not even from recordings.

It would be an understatement to say it was a stunning performance.

[Luckyluc]

At 5:14, for some bars, Celibidache stops conducting and goes into a sort of trance. I think that he is not only simply enjoying that musical passage, but he is thinking of how the Berliner Philharmoniker are playing it, corresponding to his vision of music. In his mind, it's like if in that moment he is closing a circle after a whole career. These seconds are moving.