4. Academy Concert: Vladimir Jurowski
Swiss composer Frank Martin extracts six monologue-like passages from Hugo von Hofmannsthal’s reworking of the medieval, “Everyman. The play of the rich man's death”, which traces the psychological development of the title character – from realisation of his impending death to revolt and despair, through to final acceptance of death. Martin’s essentially tonal, but extremely individually enriched music nestles closely with the text, until it fades off consolingly in C major. Anton Bruckner’s Symphony No. 6 is is somewhat overshadowed by its more popular neighbours. The composer, a great admirer of Richard Wagner, pays homage to his idol with a quote from Tristan and Isolde in the finale. Vladimir Jurowski, taking a strictly chronological approach to the Austrian symphonist’s œuvre, interprets this complex, rhythmically striking piece, described by its composer as the “perkiest” of his symphonies, which will now be performed for only the fourth time in the history of the Musical Academy.
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