BaL 1st October 2011 - Bruckner's 8th Symphony

[scottycelt]

I was struck by Osborne's claim that Bruckner's good friend, Hermann Levi, refused to have anything to with this awe-inspiring, towering work, not, as we are constantly told, out of any initial rejection of the music itself, but because he was simply terrified of conducting it!

Nice one, Richard ...

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Never at all thought of [Boulez] as a Bruckner conductor!

He's very good, Bbm: if you like his Wagner recordings (as I do) you'll hear the same scrupulous attention to the score, a superb ear for Bruckner's counterpoint, and powerful momentum. Plus a "new" element in PB's conducting, one that, if I were talking about any other figure, I would call "mellowing"!

I agree. His fidelity to the score makes him HIP without being annoyingly self-righteous, like so many HIPPsters.
Not that I'll ever forgiver PB for his attitude to Tchaikovsky.

[mathias broucek]

A quality edition of BAL

Question is: do I need the BPO/Giulini as well as the VPO and Philharmonia (BBC Legends) recordings from the same period?

May need to listen again to the stereo Kubelik. At the time I bought it I loved the slow movement but thought the ending rushed and the sound limited.

Nice to hear Gielen get a mention alongside the more obvious contenders. But a pity that he picked probably Jochum's weakest recording of the piece (the Dresden, Hamburg and Hessichen radio performances are all better) - the tempo increase in the Adagio is verging on the silly.

And isn't Furtwangler amazing? I keep my records in order of purchase and once asked two musical friends to pick a number at random; it feel on the VPO 8th and we listened to the slow movement in complete awe

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I keep my records in order of purchase ...

There's a lot to be said for that filing system.

[Barbirollians]

Another terrific BAL from Richard Osborne - the compliments set out above were rightly showered on his presentation .

He rated three of my favourites the Boulez, Furtwangler and Wand highly - sorry to hear no mention of the Barbirolli that he praised so highly in Gramophone but I imagine that is because BBC legends have deleted it .

The Giulini sounded terrific - and rather more lively than the VPO account as I remember it . The Kubelik too caught my ears .

Excellent all round. More Richard Osborne BALs please R 3.

[silvestrione]

Yes an inspiring BAL, but it may prove expensive...I really think I must have that Guilini, and I'm very tempted by Boulez as well: I was taken with the remarks about the VPO in this music, and the modesty of Boulez saying he was going to learn from them. (Mind you I have 2 VPO already, Furtwangler and Karajan)

[Keraulophone]

Giulini in Berlin is awe-inspiring, but at the same time as adding those Testament discs to my collection last year, I couldn't resist acquiring Barbirolli's impassioned version as well as Horenstein's with the BBC SO (NLA, but found s/h). All three are essential listening for Brucknerians. I also have a soft spot for Karajan's 1975 recording with the BPO. It was the BAL choice shortly after, probably another of RO's recommendations. I loved the 'bird's wing in flour' '70s artwork on those LP boxes, especially the pale green 8th.

RO's column in 'The Oldie' is often a good read.

[Tony Halstead]

Quoting Keraulophone:
"Horenstein's with the BBC SO"

I'm fairly sure that Horenstein was conducting the LSO not the BBCSO ( Proms 1970).

[Alison]

Lovely to hear RO again, although neither the Giulini or Kubelik appealed to me that much from the extracts played.

Although not given a mention, I would not trade in Haitink's two most recent accounts (RCO Live and Dresden) for any of the
winners. I still think I enjoy most the Concertgebouw Orchestra in this of all Bruckner symphonies.

[Chris Newman]

Quoting Keraulophone:
"Horenstein's with the BBC SO"

I'm fairly sure that Horenstein was conducting the LSO not the BBCSO ( Proms 1970).

That's correct:
Eighth LSO
Ninth BBCSO
Both were in the same BBC Legends set.

[Petrushka]

Amusing to note that neither Matthias Broucek with 38 versions nor I with 30, have the chosen CD, the BPO/Giulini.

Richard Osborne's word is Holy Writ where Bruckner 8 is concerned and I shall be adding it to my collection asap. I am very surprised that Haitink's Dresden recording was not in the running but this was an excellent BaL and RO must have had his reasons.

[tom_960]

[Horenstein's Bruckner]:
<<Eighth LSO
Ninth BBCSO
Both were in the same BBC Legends set.>>

A year after the magnificent Eighth with the LSO, Horenstein returned to the Proms in 1971 to perform the Fifth with the BBCSO. That performance too has appeared on CD. I was there, and later that year I was also present in the RFH when Horrors did the Sixth with the (New?) Philharmonia, in a concert which also included Tortelier playing the Dvorak. Both the 5th and the 6th were magnificent. Does anyone know if that Sixth ever made it to CD?

For me, one of the finest aspects of the Eighth is the timpani playing of - I presume - Kurt-Hans Goedicke. The way he drives the music forward in the scherzo is just thrilling.

As others have said, vintage stuff from Richard Osborne.

[Nick Armstrong]

Lovely to hear RO again, although neither the Giulini or Kubelik appealed to me that much from the extracts played.

I felt the same Alison. Loving Tennstedt/LPO and owning also the Jochum/Dresden, the one of RO's finalists which most enticed me was Wand/BPO. I have that combination in a couple of other Bruckners. I'm often tempted to think that Bruckner performance brings out more markedly than almost any other composer the differences between approaches, and between personal preferences.

Amusing to note that neither Matthias Broucek with 38 versions nor I with 30, have the chosen CD, the BPO/Giulini.

Hadn't spotted that and I find it amazing as well as amusing.

Presumably there is a reason for that? e.g. it's a pretty recent release I think (2009?), has your Bruckner 8 collecting slowed down?

I loved the 'bird's wing in flour' '70s artwork on those LP boxes, especially the pale green 8th

I'd forgotten about them! Me too! I used to get those glossy free DG catalogues from the local record shop in the late 70s when I was getting into music, and the 9 pastel coloured 'bird's wing' covers fascinated me and I think were what enticed me first of all to try Bruckner. Thanks for reminding me - first time I've thought about that for a quarter of a century or so, I think!!

[Barbirollians]

I love that Jochum too but I do see his point about the speeding up and slowing down.

[mathias broucek]

If you like Jochum's 8th, try to get hold of the 1949 Hamburg 8th (comes with the 1954 BRSO 9th). There are a couple on Marketplace for £20 or so. The slow movement is very lovely and unlike most of his other recordings it's Haas (the 1949ish Hessichen radio recording is also Haas).

The reason I haven't got the BPO Giulini is that the VPO version is - compared to the very best - just on the edge of blandness. I read somewhere that the BPO version was similar but the excerpts sounded pretty good. May have to buy at some point but have purchased so much lately that this can wait!