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Orchestre de Paris / Philippe Jordan

Schubert, Bruckner
Symphonic Concert
Grande salle Pierre Boulez - Philharmonie
Duration: about 2h20 with 1 intermission

Program

Distribution

Franz Schubert
Symphonie n° 8 "Inachevée"
Intermission
Anton Bruckner
Symphonie n° 9
Orchestre de Paris
Philippe Jordan , conducting

Placing the orchestra in the spotlight, these two incomplete masterpieces—by Schubert and Bruckner—illustrate the Romantic symphony’s debt to the Germanic tradition.

A sombre motif in the low strings, a plaintive oboe melody: from the opening bars, the ‘UnfinishedSymphony draws us into Schubertian mystery, where song turns dramatic, penetrated by desolation verging on terror. Left with only two movements—the second more soothing than the first—this incomplete work is anything but unaccomplished, standing as one of the pinnacles of musical romanticism.

In counterpoint, what better reply than Bruckner’s Ninth, which the ailing composer was unable to finish? Of this opus dedicated to ‘dem lieben Gott’ (‘to the good Lord’), we have three movements: the ‘solemn and mysterious’ first, where the tension is carried by imperious horns; the hammering second, like a Dantean race to the abyss, reminiscent of Stravinsky; and then a concluding, testamentary Adagio, including a chorale under which the composer noted ‘Abschied vom Leben’ (‘Farewell to life’). Whether it reflects the anguish of a dying man or the trusting resignation of one placing himself in the hands of his creator, is up to each listener to decide.

Media

Franz Schubert : Symphonie n°8 « Inachevée » - Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Trevor Pinnock (direction)
Anton Bruckner : Symphonie n° 9 - Staatskapelle Berlin, Daniel Barenboim (direction)
Karina-Canellakis

Grande salle Pierre Boulez - Philharmonie

See the venue

Getting here

Porte de Pantin station
Paris Underground (Métro) Line 5
Tram 3B 

Address

221 avenue Jean-Jaurès, 75019 Paris

To leave after this concert

taxi G7