This recording confirms Tintner’s stature as a Bruckner conductor in as convincing a manner as his recent, astounding recording of the Third Symphony, but for completely different reasons. That recording was an EVENT, an interpretation which radically redefined the significance of the work in the context of the composer’s overall achievement. Here, by contrast, Tintner does not try to give the music a stature it does not, in fact, have. There are no major revelations, just top quality, affectionate music-making. Tintner’s serious but above all bracing approach to this early work emphasizes its charm and melodic appeal–not without depth, of course, as the eloquent Andante molto demonstrates beyond doubt. In refraining from “Brucknerizing” the piece (by which we mean slowing it down to a crawl and making a Big Deal out of every entry of the brass section), Tintner, aided by some fine playing and warm recorded sound, makes an excellent case for enjoying this apprentice work simply, on its own terms. Just what this symphony needs, in fact. The “Volksfest” finale to the Fourth Symphony (basically the movement we know now, slightly rearranged), makes a considerable bonus. This is clearly the version of Symphony 00 to own.
