This is the second release in the Telarc cycle of the symphonies of Anton Bruckner, as interpreted by Jesús López-Cobos and performed by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Maestro López-Cobos is not only an expert Bruckner scholar; he also counts Bruckner among the composers closest to his heart, and his performances show it. Combined with the splendid acoustics of Cincinnati’s Music Hall, the masterful collaboration between Maestro López-Cobos and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra provide a fascinating glimpse into the workings of genius.

Bruckner was not a self-confident man. Far from it. His lack of confidence together with his desire to please made him susceptible to his friends’ and students’ well-meaning, but often wrong-headed, suggestions to “improve” his symphonies. This conflict led to the now infamous “Bruckner problem”—the existence of differing versions of many of his symphonies. The Fourth underwent the most severe alterations of all, existing today in no fewer than five different forms.

López-Cobos’ choice of the rarely heard original 1874 version of the Fourth gives the listener a fascinating glimpse of what Bruckner originally intended his work to be, before the onslaught of revisions began. The most notable change was a completely different Scherzo, full of duplet rhythms in ¾ time (which was later replaced by the famous “Hunting Scherzo), and major alterations to the Finale, in which he replaced the original quintuplets with the so-called “Bruckner rhythm.” There were more minor changes to the first two movements as well. All in all, the original is a quite different work from the versions with which we have become accustomed.