Individual Bruckner Symphonies
Fri, Feb 18 2011, 8:50PM
#2
RE: Individual Bruckner Symphonies
I enjoy talking Bruckner almost as much as listening to him. I will second the recommendation for Inbal's cycle--worth the hunt. I seem to recall contemperary reviews of the Inbal second metioning it being incomplete, but to my ears, its the most exciting recording in my library.
And Celi, oh, Celi--the EMI recordings are pure gold.
Thu, Feb 24 2011, 1:10PM
#3
RE: Individual Bruckner Symphonies
I don't have any preferences for 0 - 2, having not heard them enough yet; for the rest:
No.3: Kubelik/BRSO gets my vote, followed by the rather fierce Karajan.
No.4: Have to go with the classic Böhm/VPO but also the epiphanous Celi.
No.5: Never quite able to decide; not sure if I really like any recording of this much, except perhaps the Harnoncourt. One I don't like is the Sinopoli, which I find too mechanically perfect (same with his 3rd).
No.6: Klemperer all the way for me, but honourable mentions to Celibidache, Barenboim (old Chicago recording on DG) and Davis/LSO.
No.7: No particular favourite, but I do have a soft spot for the Böhm/VPO I have on a DG LP.
No.8: Karajan/BPO.
No.9: Same.
Mon, Feb 28 2011, 12:23AM
#4
RE: Individual Bruckner Symphonies
Has anyone heard any of Andreae's recordings? As far as I know they are not available separately but in an expensive box set. They are quite old.
I've never quite understood preferences for Sinopoli, his 5th is a monumental disaster. More Sinopoli than Bruckner.
Try Schuricht in the 5th with the old Hague orkester if you can find it.
I heard Wand at the Proms with the BBCSO and he was spot on for this symphony as far as I was concerned.
I agree the Celi' 4th is magnificent but I am not so sure that I would want to experience it all that often. Bohm's Vienna recording is "safer" for both heart and mind.
The 8th, a permanent fixture on my ipod, is Karajan/DG. His old EMI recording was the first Bruckner discs I bought (a movement a side with a photo of a mountain on the sleeve!). Unfortunately, the last movement suffered with peak distortion and I bet it still does.
Mon, Feb 28 2011, 1:40AM
#5
RE: Individual Bruckner Symphonies
hello!
i'm quite new to bruckner, so i can't discuss the issue like some of you, who have listened to each symphony in 10 different versions or so..
i would just like to say, that it could be important which recording you buy, when you do not know the symphonies yet. i.e. i can't imagine listening to furtwaengler's recordings just because of the sound.
i think the 7th symphony to those new to bruckner is a good choice. try karajan's last recording: with wiener philharmoniker - it's amazing and everything makes sense in the music.
and 4 with wand and berliner, i'm satisfied too..
Tue, Mar 1 2011, 10:00AM
#6
RE: Individual Bruckner Symphonies
...Try Schuricht in the 5th with the old Hague orkester if you can find it.
I heard Wand at the Proms with the BBCSO and he was spot on for this symphony as far as I was concerned...
Thanks for that - I might check it out. Funnily enough, while I was typing my post I almost mentioned the Wand Proms performance as being the best one I'd heard! I think it was 1990 - same as you?
Tue, Mar 1 2011, 10:39AM
#7
RE: Individual Bruckner Symphonies
Haven't read the entire string, but don't think anyone has mentioned the fabulous live version of the 4th by the Lucerne Festival Orchestra under Abbado. I have also received recently the new recording of the 8th with the Suisse Romande Orchestra under Janowski which is very good indeed. When you become a complete Bruckner addict, you have to at least listen to the 8th under Celibidache on EMI - more than 20 minutes longer than anyone else but still with extraordinary live intensity if you are in the mood. I still like the VPO/Giulini 8th, too. The Staatskapelle Dresden/Herbert Blomstedt 7th is now available more readily and cheaply and is definitely a good option alongside Karajan and others. The recent live performance by Giulini and the BPO on Testament is a little disappointing - doesn't quite flow and recording is a bit shallow. On the other hand, Giulini's 2nd with the VSO on Testament is great.
Tue, Mar 1 2011, 2:55PM
#8
RE: Individual Bruckner Symphonies
Is anyone familiar with the Paavo Jarvi recordings? Are they worth the investment?
Mon, Mar 7 2011, 11:43AM
#9
RE: Individual Bruckner Symphonies
Further, I have found that Jochum, much praised in some quarters, quite earthbound.
I may, of course, be completely wrong and expressing a personal taste.
I am as happy with a cathedral-like approach to the symphonies as long as they've got "lift" as I am with a swifter, leaner approach.
Again, another personal preference, I find American orchestras quite lacking in a Mittel-Yurpeen sound. They might play as well as, if not better, than the VPO but they can never be a true Brucknerian orchestra.
Tue, Mar 15 2011, 12:49PM
#10
RE: Individual Bruckner Symphonies
00: Frankfurt/Inbal
1: Weiner Akademie/Haselbock
0: Chicago SO/ Barneboim
2: Swedish RSO/ Dausgaard
3: Drseden Staatskapelle/Szell (live)
4: Concertgebouw/ Harnoncourt
5: Dresden SK/ Sinopoli
6: Stuttgart RSO/Norrington
7: Frankfurt RSO/P.Jarvi
8: BPO/Wand or VPO/Giulini
9: Dresden SK/Luisi
Wed, Jun 8 2011, 7:24AM
#11
RE: Individual Bruckner Symphonies
Here are some worth exploring, (I love the early symphonies just as much as the later ones).
No. 2 is beset by editorial issues in both Haas and Nowak - Tintner uses William Carragan's cleaned up presentation of the 1872 performing score. Lovely playing from National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland (Naxos)
3 - Haitink in his earliest recording uses the Oeser edition of the 1877 version. This is similar to Nowak's, but omits the codetta of the scherzo, removed by Bruckner himself. This is a tremendously eloquent and convincing interpretation (Philips)
8, 9 - Chailly
Wed, Jun 8 2011, 12:48PM
#12
RE: Individual Bruckner Symphonies
Here are my favourite Bruckner symphony recordings:
N° 1: Haitink/Concertgebouw
N° 2: Stein/VPO
N° 3: Haitink/Concergebouw
N° 4: Böhm/VPO
N° 5: Maazel/VPO
N° 6: Klemperer/Philharmonia
N° 7: Karajan/VPO
N° 8: Boulez/VPO
N° 9: Bernstein/VPO (on DVD)
Thu, Jun 9 2011, 12:03AM
#13
RE: Individual Bruckner Symphonies
Im new here and love it already.
For someone whos looking for a great performance and recording,
Bruckners symphony #3 by Naxos is wonderful music. Done by " Royal Scottish National Orchestra "
George Tintner conducting a beautiful score!
And i must add Naxos Bruckner Symphony #2 to that list or my post is not complete. Done by " The Symphony Orchestra of Ireland " George Titner once again at the helm. What a performance and a very good recording also!
Thats the scoop on those scores on a less expensive label.
Mon, Oct 17 2011, 8:21PM
#14
RE: Individual Bruckner Symphonies
Walter 9th
Karajan's Vienna 8th (or 1958-Berlin)
Or Horenstein (BBC) in both the above.
Furtwangler 7th (Berlin-1949)
Jochum's 5th
Bohm's 4th (or Walt or Karajan for EMI)
Fri, Feb 8 2013, 3:50AM
#15
RE: Individual Bruckner Symphonies
Great thread.
My current favourite recordings of Bruckner's symphonies are:-
#0 Skrowaczewski/SRSO (Arte Nova/Oehms) & Venzago/TS (CPO)
#1 Tintner/RSNO (Naxos) & Venzago/TS (CPO)
#2 Tintner/NSOI (Naxos) & Venzago/NS (CPO)
#3 Marthe/EPO (Preiser) & Schaller/PF (Profil) & Tintner/RSNO (Naxos)
#4 Abbado/VPO (DG) & Celibidache/MPO (EMI) & Vanska/MO (BIS) & Venzago/SB (CPO) & Wand/BPO (RCA)
#5 Barenboim/BPO (Teldec/Warner) & Chailly/RCO (Decca) & Jochum/SD (EMI) & Karajan/BPO (DG)
#6 Celibidache/MPO (EMI) & Jochum/SD (EMI)
#7 Chailly/BRSO (Decca) & Jochum/SD (EMI) & Karajan/BPO (DG) & Venzago/SB (CPO)
#8 Boulez/VPO (DG) & Celibidache/MPO (EMI) & Janowski/OSR (Pentatone) & Karajan/VPO (DG) & Wand/NDR (1987 Lubeck) (EMI/RCA)
#9 Barenboim/BPO (Teldec/Warner) & Harnoncourt/VPO (RCA) & Karajan/BPO (1966) (DG) & Marthe/EPO (Preiser) & Wand/NDR (1988 Lubeck) (RCA)
Jochum with the Staatskapelle Dresden is also not far off my favourite in #3, #4 and #9.
Peter Jan Marthe's recordings of the 3rd & 9th on the Preiser label and Mario Venzago's ongoing cycle on CPO are fascinating and well worth checking out. Blomstedt in Bruckner is also rather overlooked.
I will soon be getting some Giulini, Haitink, Schuricht and Wand so this list may change as I hear them.
I have just bought the Jochum/EMI set from HMV for £8 - a bargain. The sound of the 5th is very good though very characteristic, I think I prefer Karajan's version.
Also, I've noticed in the 4th, when the cymbal crash is included, there seems to be a slight lack in concentration (or something) afterwards. I prefer Klemperer here, though a tad fast, the last movement sounds very convincing (Robert Simpson please note)