The MusicWeb Message Board: Re: Lee Denham's review of Markus Poschner's recording of Bruckner's Symphony No. 7

Good Day, Mr Walz

And many thanks for taking the time to comment upon my review of Markus Poschner's recording of Bruckner's Seventh Symphony. It is always good to get feedback from readers even if, as on this occasion, it is to disagree with the conclusions of a review.

Thank you as well for bringing my attention to Dave Hurwitz's Youtube channel. I have seen some of his work there and admire it - he most certainly has a gift on that medium.

However, I would question your wisdom of using him to back up your criticism of my review, not least since (having just watched) Mr Hurwitz's own video on the same recording, I note it is titled: 'Poschner's misconceived Bruckner Seventh' and in it Mr Hurwitz then goes on to detail exactly the same reasons why I disliked the same recording, perhaps even more disparagingly. From my perspective, I cannot in all good conscience recommend this recording to any reader for the reasons I outline in my review. As for your point on ‘conducting’ (which I am taking as ‘interpretation’),I simply cannot understand some of Poschner’s decisions in his performance

That said, I agree with you about the Utah Symphony Orchestra, an outfit that has consistently punched above its weight. I am currently working my way through a Survey of Mahler's Eighth Symphony and this orchestra's own recording of the work under Maurice Abravanel in 1963 from the Tabernacle is not just important in terms of being the first studio recording of this work, but one that can also hold its own against anyone else since; a quite stunning achievement.

So thank you for your time and comments - we will have to agree to differ on this occasion.

Lee

Previous Message

I quote Lee Denham in his review of Bruckner's Symphony No. 7 with the ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, led by conductor Markus Poschner:

"Given his immersion in Bruckner’s music over so short a time, you would have thought that Poschner would be a consistent guide on the podium, but in reality he has proved to be hugely erratic throughout the cycle; whether this was due to his using the revised scores of the New Anton Bruckner Complete Works or imposing his own interpretive views on the music, I could not say – but I suspect the latter."

"...imposing his own interpretive views on the music ...." Is that what is called conducting?

Any so-called consensus in critical reviews of commercially released orchestral recordings is bound to be debated. However, to take one limited example, let us dredge up that far more-useful critic than one might imagine, David Hurwitz, and his YouTube review channel in particular ("The Ultimate Classical Music Guide"):

Mr. Hurwitz rates Poschner's releases of the following Bruckner symphonies highly:

Symphony in D minor ("0")
Symphony No. 5
Symphony No. 6
Symphony No. 8 (1890 edition, Nowak)
Symphony No. 9

It would likely be far more accurate to say that some of Poschner's recordings of Bruckner's symphonies (in whatever versions) have divided critical opinion, which is the norm for almost all orchestral recordings that have been released and will be released by almost any orchestra and any conductor, on any record label.

One look at Poschner's website will show that he has conducted most of Bruckner's symphonies several times (except the Symphony in F minor) in whatever version in the lead up to each commercial recording, and then in the years thereafter.

I enjoy and even like Markus Poschner's commercial recording of Bruckner's Symphony No. 7. Do I think that it is anything like one of the best of this symphony that has ever been recorded? No -- but then only a tiny percentage of commercial recordings even qualify for such a debate.

Additionally, I have seen and heard Markus Poschner conduct my local, full-time professional orchestra, the Utah Symphony (in Abravanel Hall, in Salt Lake City, Utah), 8 times in concert in four different programs, since late November 2022. And, most recently, I saw and heard Poschner conduct the Utah Symphony just this past weekend, on May 23-24, 2025. I have also seen and heard the final rehearsal for each of those four programs.

No conductor is consistently good or close to exceptional in the works of composers who have written a half dozen (or many more) symphonies. Markus Poschner is no exception to this rule, but, in my experience, he is an excellent conductor and an excellent musician.