Bernard Haitink

The greatest virtue of Bernard Haitink's live recording of Anton Bruckner's Symphony No. 7 in E major with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra is its stunning clarity, a characteristic noted in several of the conductor's other concert recordings, but one which is of paramount significance in this captivating CD. Bruckner's symphonic music has long been interpreted as architectural in form, and conductors have often let small details of articulation, dynamics, and tone color fall by the wayside while concentrating on the larger matters of structure and pacing.

After conducting for 65 years, Bernard Haitink retired in 2019 at the age of 90. The musicians he worked with are puzzled by the secrets of his technique. He himself says his job is to embrace the orchestra without suffocating them.

It is almost inconceivable today that Gustav Mahler’s works were long marginalised in musical life.

This live recording, taken from concerts performed in 2005, offers a revealing glimpse at the approach to Bruckner’s music developed by Dutch conductor Bernard Haitink and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra over their many years of working together. Haitink first conducted Bruckner’s Eighth Symphony with the RCO in 1959 and has performed the work with the orchestra more than 20 times in the years that followed. Under his direction, the Concertgebouw Orchestra has established a Bruckner tradition of international reputation.

A recording of Ludwig van Beethoven's 'Ninth' is always a great event, especially because the symphony’s final chorus, Schiller's 'Ode to Joy', is understood around the world as a plea for peace and international understanding. It was no coincidence that the catchy melody to the text 'Joy, beautiful spark of divinity' was chosen as the Hymn of the European Union. This recording of Beethoven’s great choral symphony under the direction of Bernard Haitink and with excellent instrumental and vocal soloists is not only an outstanding interpretation of the work but also very much an event in itself – because these recordings document Haitink’s last ever concerts with the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks. Haitink's decision marks the end of a conducting career spanning 65 years. He has been a regular and highly welcome guest of the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, and numerous CDs on the BR-KLASSIK label document the exceptional quality of this creative collaboration.

It is almost inconceivable today that Gustav Mahler’s works were long marginalised in musical life.

LSO Live celebrates the 90th birthday of one of the conducting world’s greats, Bernard Haitink.