Global EditionASIA 中文雙語Fran?ais
    Life

    Bringing a new bloom to Bruckner

    Landmark NCPA release is first Chinese recording of all nine symphonies under one conductor, Chen Nan reports.

    By Chen Nan | China Daily | Updated: 2025-03-06 00:00
    Share
    Share - WeChat

    When a recording of Symphonies Nos 1 to 9 — the entirety of Anton Bruckner's symphonic cycle — was released by NCPA Classics on Dec 22, it was a groundbreaking achievement, not just for the China NCPA Orchestra and conductor Lyu Jia, but for the wider classical music landscape.

    This ambitious project saw the Beijing-based resident symphony orchestra of the National Centre for the Performing Arts embark on an extraordinary interpretation of the Austrian composer's vast musical oeuvre. Released on the NCPA's 17th anniversary, the recording also coincided with the 200th anniversary of Bruckner's birth.

    This complete cycle, the pinnacle of Lyu's decade-long journey with the China NCPA Orchestra, was also the first time a Chinese symphony orchestra had recorded all nine symphonies under a single conductor.

    The esteemed classical music magazine Gramophone published a review of the cycle by Christian Hoskins. "Given the performers' lack of track record in this repertoire, one might not know what to expect. But the interpretations here are distinctive and compelling, if not always entirely mainstream in their approach," the review read.

    "In terms of editions, Lyu uses the final versions of Symphonies Nos 1, 2, 3, and 8, and the second of the three versions of No 4. The performance of the First Symphony, recorded live, is perhaps the finest of the cycle," it continued.

    Hoskins also referenced recordings made by Romanian conductor Sergiu Celibidache in the 1980s and '90s, as well as the cycle by one of his students, French conductor Remy Ballot.

    "It's to Lyu's credit that, in most cases, I find his performance more persuasive than the equivalent versions by Celibidache and Ballot," he wrote.

    For Lyu, Bruckner's symphonies are not merely pieces of music — they are profound journeys into the heart of human emotion and spirit.

    "It is an endeavor that transcends the technical demands of the music and delves into the very essence of musical and cultural dialogue between China and the West. We are very proud of this project," says the 60-year-old, who became the principal conductor of the China NCPA Orchestra in 2012, two years after its founding. "This historic release is not only a celebration of Bruckner's timeless music but also a symbolic gesture highlighting China's growing prominence on the global classical music stage."

    One defining characteristic of the NCPA interpretation is Lyu's notably slow tempo, especially when conducting the Eighth Symphony, which stretches to an expansive 100 minutes.

    "I wanted to say more with the music, so I intentionally slowed the tempo," the conductor explains. "Each of Bruckner's symphonies is its own cosmos, and I wanted to discuss the philosophical nature of his music through the performances."

    Over the years, Lyu has made it his mission to explore the composer's monumental symphonies — work that has come to define an important chapter in his artistic life. He says that his relationship with Bruckner has been a journey of deep personal resonance.

    "It wasn't possible for me to record this cycle when I was a young conductor. Bruckner's music is an exploration of human emotion, and his symphonies express strength, fragility, belief, and existential reflection," says Lyu, who was born into a musical family in Shanghai and began studying piano and cello at a young age. He later studied conducting at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing and at 24, was admitted to Berlin University of the Arts to hone his skills. The following year, he was awarded the First and Jury's Prize at the Antonio Pedrotti International Conducting Competition in Trento, Italy, launching his career as a conductor.

    "The significance of this release extends beyond the borders of China, as it places the NCPA Orchestra at the heart of a global conversation about Bruckner," the conductor adds.

    The recording of all nine symphonies has been years in the making. The orchestra first performed Bruckner's symphonies in 2016, when they were considered a tough sell in China. However, under Lyu's leadership, perceptions have shifted dramatically. The orchestra's performances of Bruckner now draw significant crowds, with attendance rates rising from 70 percent in 2016 to 85 percent in 2023, according to the NCPA. This shift underscores the growing maturity of the Chinese classical music audience and an increasing appreciation for the emotional depth of Bruckner's work.

     

    The China NCPA Orchestra performs Anton Bruckner's Symphony No 6 in Shanghai during its national tour on April 11, 2021. GAN YUAN/FOR CHINA DAILY

     

     

    Lyu Jia celebrates his 10th year as the music director and principal conductor of the China NCPA Orchestra in Beijing on March 12, 2022. GAO SHANG/FOR CHINA DAILY

     

     

    The orchestra performs Bruckner's Symphony No 7 during a concert in Guangzhou on March 22, 2023. GAN YUAN/FOR CHINA DAILY

     

     

    Online See more by scanning the code.

     

     

    Today's Top News

    Editor's picks

    Most Viewed

    Top
    BACK TO THE TOP
    English
    Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site.
    License for publishing multimedia online 0108263

    Registration Number: 130349
    FOLLOW US
    熟妇人妻中文字幕无码老熟妇 | 中文字幕久久精品无码| V一区无码内射国产| 中文字幕无码久久人妻| 最近2019中文免费字幕在线观看| 精品欧洲av无码一区二区三区| 无码AV动漫精品一区二区免费| √天堂中文www官网| 中文无码熟妇人妻AV在线| 国产午夜无码精品免费看动漫 | 精品久久久久久无码专区不卡 | 免费无码一区二区三区蜜桃 | 亚洲精品人成无码中文毛片| 久久青青草原亚洲av无码app| 亚洲一区爱区精品无码| 制服丝袜日韩中文字幕在线| 中文字幕成人精品久久不卡| 最近2019中文免费字幕在线观看| 亚洲av无码天堂一区二区三区 | 亚洲av无码乱码在线观看野外| 无码国产午夜福利片在线观看| 国产综合无码一区二区辣椒| 中文字幕高清有码在线中字| 精品人妻中文av一区二区三区| 中文成人无码精品久久久不卡| 蜜臀AV无码国产精品色午夜麻豆 | av无码播放一级毛片免费野外| 人妻无码αv中文字幕久久| 亚洲av无码不卡| 无码AV波多野结衣久久| 亚洲AV无码日韩AV无码导航| 亚洲AV永久无码精品| 无码人妻少妇色欲AV一区二区| 无码国内精品人妻少妇蜜桃视频| 久久精品亚洲中文字幕无码麻豆| 久久男人Av资源网站无码软件| 人妻无码αv中文字幕久久琪琪布 人妻无码第一区二区三区 | 国产av无码专区亚洲av果冻传媒 | 人妻精品久久无码专区精东影业 | 无码AⅤ精品一区二区三区| 亚洲中文字幕无码爆乳av中文|