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Eremite
18-11-2012, 09:51
So, I've got Karajan's recording but really don't get on with it (seems too in-your-face); where should I look next?

Marco
18-11-2012, 10:04
Hi Simon,

Must it be his 8th? If not, I can thoroughly recommend this:


http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/3213/bruckner2.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/339/bruckner2.jpg/)


The vinyl will be quite hard to get (don't even know if you use vinyl), but it may also be available on CD? :)

Marco.

Eremite
18-11-2012, 10:34
Hi Simon,

Must it be his 8th?

Thanks for the 7th recommendation Marco, I'm always happy to be given excuses to spend money on music :lol:

However, it is particularly the perfect 8th that I'm looking for. Amongst Bruckner's symphonies this is the one that seems hardest to get right. In the one that I have got, Karajan appears to be attempting to be Solti conducting Wagner :)

Oh, and sorry, no vinyl in my house any more...

Tim
18-11-2012, 10:39
Simon, do you mean CD or vinyl?

I have 4 Bruckner 8's, but all CD

Eremite
18-11-2012, 11:11
Simon, do you mean CD or vinyl?

I have 4 Bruckner 8's, but all CD

Hi Tim, CD.

MartinT
18-11-2012, 11:36
Hi Simon

My favourite Brucker 8th is on the Eugen Jochum/Statskapelle Dresden EMI boxed set of the complete cycle. Another good performance is the Nicholas Harnoncourt/BPO on Teldec.

Tim
18-11-2012, 13:41
Which Karajan do you have, I have two and much prefer the VPO over the BPO - In fact I don't play the BPO anymore?

I also really like the Gunter Wand live recording 5-7 December 1993 from Lübeck Cathedral.

Eremite
18-11-2012, 14:13
Which Karajan do you have, I have two and much prefer the VPO over the BPO - In fact I don't play the BPO anymore?

I also really like the Gunter Wand live recording 5-7 December 1993 from Lübeck Cathedral.

I'm afraid that it's the VPO Karajan that I don't like, Tim!

Tim
18-11-2012, 14:53
Haha, there we go then, just like anything our enjoyment of music as well as the equipment we play it on is very subjective. Mind you, I am scratching my head now wondering if I have it the right way round, so I'll have to check later now as I have not listened to either for awhile - I certainly know I prefer one over the other :scratch:

The other I have is the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra - Pierre Boulez

tannoyman
18-11-2012, 15:11
Try Solti and the Vienna Philharmonic on Decca SET 335/6

David:):)

MartinT
18-11-2012, 22:57
Agree with Tim that Wand is a great Brucknerian. Sadly I don't have his 8th. I do have the Boulez, but haven't played it in too long to be able to comment.

jandl100
20-11-2012, 07:41
Bruckner 8th - I have over 30 of them! :mental: :eek:

Karajan - yuk! I quite agree with you about both his recordings. In my opinion, his only decent Bruckner is the 3rd symphony - and that is superb as a performance and in sound quality.

The 8th though ...

Wand recorded live in Lubeck cathedral on RCA if you want the full reverberant cathedral experience as it must have been envisoned by Bruckner. Wand paces the performance to match the reverb in the cathedral as well - magnificent! But it does stretch over 2 CDs.
http://c3.cduniverse.ws/resized/250x500/music/937/1534937.jpg

My Desert Island 8th is probably a bit 'left field' - Anton Nanut and the Ljubljana SO.
He just nails the pacing for me - tremendous! Better than decent sq, too.
http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_250/MI0001/054/MI0001054052.jpg?partner=allrovi.com

Another superb Brucknerian, but rather forgotten these days, was Lovro von Matacic. Get this if you can - wonderful!
http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_250/MI0001/084/MI0001084998.jpg?partner=allrovi.com

Eremite
20-11-2012, 09:21
Thanks for all these excellent recommendations; off to the (virtual) shops now!

Tim
20-11-2012, 10:06
Over 30 Bruckner 8's Jerry, that is impressive.

I think the Wand is superb.

MartinT
20-11-2012, 11:49
Certainly the Wand 9th is superb and one of my favourite Bruckners anyway.

Tim
20-11-2012, 12:39
Certainly the Wand 9th is superb and one of my favourite Bruckers anyway.
I have that too, as you say, Wand is a very fine Brucknerian.

jandl100
21-11-2012, 21:30
I saw Wand conduct at the RFH many times in my college days - he always delivered fine music making.

JJack
02-12-2012, 06:22
Bruckner 8th - I have over 30 of them! :mental: :eek:

Karajan - yuk! I quite agree with you about both his recordings. In my opinion, his only decent Bruckner is the 3rd symphony - and that is superb as a performance and in sound quality.

The 8th though ...

Wand recorded live in Lubeck cathedral on RCA if you want the full reverberant cathedral experience as it must have been envisoned by Bruckner. Wand paces the performance to match the reverb in the cathedral as well - magnificent! But it does stretch over 2 CDs.
http://c3.cduniverse.ws/resized/250x500/music/937/1534937.jpg

My Desert Island 8th is probably a bit 'left field' - Anton Nanut and the Ljubljana SO.
He just nails the pacing for me - tremendous! Better than decent sq, too.
http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_250/MI0001/054/MI0001054052.jpg?partner=allrovi.com

Another superb Brucknerian, but rather forgotten these days, was Lovro von Matacic. Get this if you can - wonderful!
http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_250/MI0001/084/MI0001084998.jpg?partner=allrovi.com

Wow, impressive collection.

My top 8th is a Furtwangler from 1949, BPO, available on Music & Arts and probably some others as well. There is a decresendo toward the end that is worth the price of admission.
The sound is not good by modern standards, but still has great impact. In some passages the strings are nicely caught. The bass is powerful. Worth it if you can find it. It is my favorite recording of any of the Mahler/Bruckner large pieces.

After that it's the two Vienna performances, one by Karajan and the other by Guilini. I like Guilini but the sound quality on the DG LP is a bit thin and bright.