Search - Eugene Jochum on DVD

Jochum: 5 Stars ; Sound Recording: 3 Stars ; Edition:5 Star

Ekrem Ayyildiz | istanbul,turkey | 08/16/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As you know Jochum (1902-1987) was the leading and one of the greatest Brucknerian among the second generation of Bruckner-conductors. He recorded complete symphonies two times (with BP&SOBR for DG, 1958-66 and with SD for EMI, 1976-80) and also recorded No.4(Haas version with BP for DG), No.5(with Concertgebouw for Philips),No.8(His sole Haas version with P.S.O.Hamburg for DG,1949,mono) and No.9 (with his SOBR for DG,1954,mono).All are milestones and among references in the catalog and in my mind, though my favorites of some symphonies are by the other great Brucknerians such as Furtwaengler, Klemperer, Knappertsbusch, B.Walter, Karajan, Celibidache,Wand, Giulini or Bohm.
Unfortunately there are not film document so much about Jochum (like many great conductors). But this DVD is very satisfying, because it's filmed very well and coloured. Jochum is on the first of Bruckner's great "trilogy" : SYMPHONY No.7 (with Orchestre National de France, at Champ-Elysse Theatre, in 1980, Live). This performance has some different points and effects than his mystic, superlative and greater DG account with BP in 1964 (A must to have recording for every Bruckner archive;part of his legendary DG set). And offcourse the performance also contains Jochum classics/ Jochum's approaching. But this first class orchestra(ONF) has not a Bruckner tradition; especially brass and string(tremolandos) sections are not as perfect as WP, BP, MP, SD, Cgb, CSO or Philharmonia. I also have a CD version of this recording(INA) and I must say honestly : The sound recording is poor for its time(beginning of digital era), though this remastered DVD version is better. The large orchestra and rich/great brass section sounds like a recording of the mid 1960's.
PROGRAM:
Bruckner : Symphony No.7
Wagner : Prelude Act-1 and Liebestod from Tristan und Isolde (1980, Stereo, coloured film)
BONUS : Mozart,Le Nozze di Figaro Overture( Very good performance. 1964, mono, black-white film)
In short : This DVD is must to have for Jochum and Bruckner lovers and also for collectors. Normal price too.

"

4.5 Stars- Up to Jochum's usual high standards

M. A. Scott | Kansas, USA | 10/23/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Eugene Jochum has always been in my top four or five conductors of all-time and he is in fine form with the Orchestra National de France, but even though it's played and interpreted very well, it still doesn't move me like his 1964 DG version, especially in the around 25:30 adagio. And granted this French Orchestra isn't known for being a great Bruckner Orchestra, but as a whole they do a fairly good job, though the EMI and DG versions on cd are a little bit better than this one happens to be. A previous reviewer said "The 1964 version is more mystical", and that's just the way it needs to be played. I've cried my eyes out listening to the adagio of that 1964 version and it's beyond me why they have never put out that Bruckner 7th as a single cd (it's always only been available if you buy the DG box set of the complete Symphonies) because in my book it's the best version of that work ever. It would have been great to have had the Vienna Philharmonic or the Berlin Philharmonic filmed back in the late 60's or early 70's with the great Eugene Jochum leading them in this great work. I think I will listen to this a few more times before I really know fully how good this is particular version is."