Classical Concert Reviews Cinci

@uc_ccm’s Philharmonia continued their fall 2025 semester with a fine performance of Anton Bruckner’s Symphony No. 5 in B-flat Major, written between 1875 and 1876. Seeing as the program was titled Chorales and Counterpoint, the symphony was preceded by a recording by organist Klaus Sonnleitner of Bruckner’s Perger Praeludium (1884) on the very organ which the composer himself played in the Saint Florian Augustinian monastery outside of Linz, Austria, known today as the Bruckner Organ.
The Philharmonia’s performance of Bruckner’s Fifth Symphony was perhaps the quickest performance of this work I have encountered thus far. It can be both a blessing and a curse, as many different orchestras and conductors have left their own unique interpretation of it over the years. I found, however, that certain movements of this symphony seemed to be more insightfully performed than others.
The first and fourth movements in particular were perhaps the most well-executed of the entire work with biting brass and timpani and supple winds, even if their slower sections had a more glacial tempo comparable to a Brahms or Beethoven symphony. The second and third, however, seemed to run into more trouble, as the relatively quick slow tempo persisted in the former and didn’t really seem to allow certain solos the space to be relaxed in their playing, particularly in the horns, flutes and violins. The scherzo was fiery but did occasionally feel under-prepared, which was primarily a result of the tempo choices for the slower sections.
As Bruckner’s symphonies are widely known as ‘cathedrals of sound’, the acoustics of Corbett Auditorium did not seem to favor this aesthetic particularly well. While it carried every instrument in the orchestra with clarity, it did not leave enough opportunities for the sound to fully ring out.
All in all, however, this was an enjoyable performance and it was clear every student in this orchestra that participated poured their heart and soul into this masterpiece and gave their playing more than 110%. Looking forward to their next appearance as part of CCM’s Jennifer Higdon residency later this month.