Following the completion of his harmony and counterpoint studies with Simon Sechter, Bruckner took lessons in form and orchestration from the cellist and conductor Otto Kitzler, under whose tutelage he first encountered the music of Wagner and composed this early symphony. The work shows little evidence of any Wagnerian influence but foreshadowings of the symphonies to come are much in evidence, notably in the powerfully rugged Scherzo. Despite Bruckner’s setting aside the piece as little more than an academic exercise, the writing is both melodically and rhythmically inventive as well as being orchestrated with a fine appreciation of instrumental sonority.

Schaller’s interpretation, the final instalment in his cycle of the symphonies, has exactly the right combination of freshness and seriousness the work requires. Tempi are expertly judged and the playing is both polished and committed. Although there are no textual issues with the F minor Symphony, there are, unusually for Bruckner, exposition repeats in all four movements. A number of conductors, including Tintner, Skrowaczewski and Bosch, omit one or more of them; Schaller, along with Inbal and Young, presents the work complete. Comparison with his fellow completists finds Schaller offering a slightly more involving experience than Young while avoiding the feeling of excessive heaviness that Inbal’s more intense conception occasionally brings.

The well-balanced recording shows little evidence of having been made at a live concert. The disc is, however, slightly short measure at 43 minutes. Had the Overture in G minor or some other rarities been included, this release would have been even more attractive.