Bruckner: favourite symphony cycle/boxed set

[Ein Heldenleben]

Dodgy brass? The CSO? To omnipresent perhaps, but dodgy?

No the dodgy brass refers to the Dresden Statskapelle under Jochum in the previous sentence. I see some Amazon reviewers concur. The CSO brass playing in both sets under Solti and Barenboim is absolutely magnificent !

[gurnemanz]

But there's a good case to be made for a self-assembly Bruckner cycle too, and there are magnificent performances that are sometimes overlooked because they weren't part of a complete set (e.g. Giulini's gloriously spacious versions of 7, 8 and 9 with the Vienna Phil, Böhm's 4, 7 and 8 with the same orchestra and so on –and on). After that, the choice is pretty much endless, and a wonderful voyage of discovery.

As CDs arrived I did a self-assemble and the Böhm 3/4 twofer formed part of it. Still a top favourite.

[makropulos]

For a complete set in decent sound, I'd go for Jochum/DG or Haitink/Philips (now Decca). But there's a good case to be made for a self-assembly Bruckner cycle too, and there are magnificent performances that are sometimes overlooked because they weren't part of a complete set (e.g. Giulini's gloriously spacious versions of 7, 8 and 9 with the Vienna Phil, Böhm's 4, 7 and 8 with the same orchestra and so on –and on). After that, the choice is pretty much endless, and a wonderful voyage of discovery.

[Richard Barrett]

They're not murky in the latest incarnation here where an impressive clean up job has been done

That is very good to know, thanks. Being an admirer of the Staatskapelle I was very disappointed by the EMI CDs. I shall line the "new" ones up for listening later today.

Regarding Karajan's 1970s recordings, I found them very exciting when they came out, especially no.9, but I haven't heard those for a long time. I think they might well be a good choice for the Bruckner newcomer.

[richardfinegold]

I think the OP is looking for a basic complete set, not worried about the minutiae of the Editions, and appears to be interested in a single conductor (I believe the Berlin and possibly VPO have issued multi Conductor sets). I second Petrushka recommendation of Haitink, but actually I haven’t heard 0-3 from that set. A set that I do own, also available on Blu Ray as the Haitink is, but much more affordable on CD, is Karajan/Berlin from the early seventies. I think that Karajan had a real affinity for Bruckner and the playing is superb. I think this should be the basic complete set for a “beginner “ collector. I also have the the Jochum/Dresden set, and that was my only Bruckner for a decade or so, but now whenever I spin it I get vertiginous from Jochum’s frequent gear shifts.
I also have the Gunter Wand set on Sony, and there are some good recordings in there, but the Berlin PO are the Concertgebou are in a different league altogether

[kernelbogey]

DG or EMI?

DG - Jochum and Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra.

I also have Solti/Chicago.

[richardfinegold]

I spent a month over the summer listening to the complete Barenboim / CSO and Solti /CSO - both fine with possibly Solti having the edge . I also listened to quite a bit of Jochum / Statskapelle. Beautifully conducted but some rather dodgy brass. The reason for this eccentric selection- they are the free offers on Amazon Prime. Like a lot of people I have a cd assemblage of Karajan, Haitink etc. Rather than a complete set. I’ve got Wand on my wishlist though.

Dodgy brass? The CSO? To omnipresent perhaps, but dodgy?

[Bryn]

I see Presto have the same set for just a few pennies more - presumably to help them pay tax.

I note that there is no mention of re-mastering on the box-cover illustrations and that the first customer review complains about poor sound quality.

[EnemyoftheStoat]

They're not murky in the latest incarnation here where an impressive clean up job has been done: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bruckner-9-...s%2C180&sr=8-1

Incidentally, the Jochum orchestral box on DG includes, as well as the standard BPO/BRSO cycle, mono recordings of 4, 7, 8 & 9 from the late 1940s/early 1950s which sound better than I would have believed possible.

I see Presto have the same set for just a few pennies more - presumably to help them pay tax.

[gurnemanz]

I spent a month over the summer listening to the complete Barenboim / CSO and Solti /CSO - both fine with possibly Solti having the edge . I also listened to quite a bit of Jochum / Statskapelle. Beautifully conducted but some rather dodgy brass. The reason for this eccentric selection- they are the free offers on Amazon Prime. Like a lot of people I have a cd assemblage of Karajan, Haitink etc. Rather than a complete set. I’ve got Wand on my wishlist though.

I remember a few years ago I also had Wand in my sights but at the time couldn't decide which one - Cologne, Hamburg NDR, Berlin - and ended up not acquiring any of them. The only Bruckner symphony set I have ever bought (apart from Karajan as part of his big Symphony box) is Venzago, directly influenced by Jayne's enthusiastic advocacy. No regrets. I have enjoyed the ride.

[Bryn]

DG I hope! - the EMI recordings are quite murky in sound.

Back in the 1960s, as a Christmas approached, I decided it was time I got a boxed set of Bruckner Symphonies. Should it be Haitink of Jochum? Principally due to the use of Nowak editions (I was unaware, at that time, of Haas's questionable relationship with his political masters, it was simply that Nowak represented more recent scholarship). I did eventually also get Jochum's EMI survey (and the Concertgebouw Haitink) but retain a soft spot for the DGG set. The next big awakening after the Jochum DGG set was the Tintner survey, purchased as the discs were released. So good to hear what, in general, were Bruckner's first thoughts on these wonders.

[Petrushka]

DG I hope! - the EMI recordings are quite murky in sound.

They're not murky in the latest incarnation here where an impressive clean up job has been done: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bruckner-9-...s%2C180&sr=8-1

Incidentally, the Jochum orchestral box on DG includes, as well as the standard BPO/BRSO cycle, mono recordings of 4, 7, 8 & 9 from the late 1940s/early 1950s which sound better than I would have believed possible.

[Ein Heldenleben]

I spent a month over the summer listening to the complete Barenboim / CSO and Solti /CSO - both fine with possibly Solti having the edge . I also listened to quite a bit of Jochum / Statskapelle. Beautifully conducted but some rather dodgy brass. The reason for this eccentric selection- they are the free offers on Amazon Prime. Like a lot of people I have a cd assemblage of Karajan, Haitink etc. Rather than a complete set. I’ve got Wand on my wishlist though.

[Richard Barrett]

DG or EMI?

DG I hope! - the EMI recordings are quite murky in sound.

[cloughie]

I suspect, for Brucknerians (whoever they are ) the story of Anton being pushed this way and that by well-meaning friends and colleagues, not to mention hostility from reviewers et cetera et cetera is part of this question: What is the true version of this symphony from the composer's point of view?

But to revert to topic: I mostly listen to Jochum.

DG or EMI?