Considered by some to be the \u2018Cinderella\u2019 of his symphonies, the Sixth Symphony of Anton Bruckner was composed in 1879 \u2013 81. It may well demonstrate a reaction to the severe criticism of the first Viennese performance, in 1877, of his Third Symphony, which Eduard Hanslick described as \u2018a vision of how Beethoven\u2019s Ninth befriends Wagner\u2019s Walk\u00fcre and ends up being trampled under her horses\u2019 hoofs\u2019. Much the shortest of his mature symphonies, the Sixth also reverts to a more classical form than its predecessors.<\/p>\n
This recording was made in 2012, during the first season of Juanjo Mena as Chief Conductor of the BBC Philharmonic, and just a month before their acclaimed performance of the work at the BBC Proms. It been selected by BBC Radio 3\u2019s Record of the Week and Gramophone\u2019s Essential New Classical Release.<\/p>\n
The Classical Review notes that Juanjo Mena \u201cproves himself a master of this difficult score.\u201c\u2026Program notes are erudite and engaging \u2026 sound is spectacular, and the playing of the BBC Philharmonic is impassioned \u2013 clearly Mena inspires them\u201d [\u2026] \u201cIf pressed to recommend a single recording, Haitink\u2019s last recording with the Bavarian RSO has a natural authority \u2026 Yet Mena, for the most part, is equally impressive, and I admire his imaginative ideas and willingness to take interpretive risks. This is an intensely musical performance and would welcome more Bruckner from this team.\u201d<\/p>\n