Bruckner: favourite symphony cycle/boxed set

[Joseph K]

I feel bound to say go "off-piste", back to one of the earlier fountainheads: get the older pastoral post-Schubertian Bruckner inside you before any grander assumptions. The lyrical volatility and drama of these readings will give you a better perspective on say, Wand (steady-state Bruckner, often too inflexible despite grandeur of sound in Berlin). Or Jochum (devoted as he was, wonderful in the Masses and Choral works, never quite got those symphonic gear changes figured out: too stiff and awkward, no rubato, episodic, often simply too fast). "Stop-Go" Bruckner, as others have commented before me....

So the very first complete cycle, by Volkmar Andreae in 1953, is my prime recommendation (despite a somewhat untidily played 9th). Venzago (CPO) does something similar in better modern sound, but his 5th doesn't really work out.....but his 1-7 are among the finest out there, risky, daring and made new, freshly read....the moods shifting with each bend in the musical road.... a time machine from the present to the timeless Brucknerian past....

https://www.qobuz.com/gb-en/album/bruckner-9-symphonien-wiener-symphoniker-volkmar-andreae/0017685122729

https://www.qobuz.com/gb-en/search?q...ner&i=boutique

I was thinking of suggestions as what set to purchase (which would only be one, given the prices of these things...) but I'll certainly check out Andreae and others via youtube. I'll probably end up buying the Haitink, cos I like his Beethoven cycle...

[jayne lee wilson]

Thanks for the suggestions.

I feel bound to say go "off-piste", back to one of the earlier fountainheads: get the older pastoral post-Schubertian Bruckner inside you before any grander assumptions. The lyrical volatility and drama of these readings will give you a better perspective on say, Wand (steady-state Bruckner, often too inflexible despite grandeur of sound in Berlin). Or Jochum (devoted as he was, wonderful in the Masses and Choral works, never quite got those symphonic gear changes figured out: too stiff and awkward, no rubato, episodic, often simply too fast). "Stop-Go" Bruckner, as others have commented before me....

So the very first complete cycle, by Volkmar Andreae in 1953, is my prime recommendation (despite a somewhat untidily played 9th). Venzago (CPO) does something similar in better modern sound, but his 5th doesn't really work out.....
Venzago's 1-7 are among the finest and most original out there, risky, daring and made new, freshly read....the moods shifting with each bend in the musical road.... a time machine from the present to the timeless Brucknerian past....

https://www.qobuz.com/gb-en/album/bruckner-9-symphonien-wiener-symphoniker-volkmar-andreae/0017685122729

https://www.qobuz.com/gb-en/search?q=Venzago+Bruckner&i=boutique

[Joseph K]

Thanks for the suggestions.

[cloughie]

As with Petrushka I tend to pick ‘n’ mix but if you want a reasonably priced set for starters either of the Jochum sets or Gunter Wand are good.

[Petrushka]

I've got lots of Bruckner symphony recordings so I take a pick'n'mix approach usually made up of Haitink, Jochum and Karajan.

My recommendation for a complete set would be Haitink, recently reissued and remastered. You get the complete symphonies plus the Te Deum thrown in together with the Symphony No 0 and, as the icing on the cake, you also get the lot on a blu=ray disc. As a central recommendation you won't go far wrong with this one in my opinion.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bruckner-Concertgebouw-Orchestra-Bernard-Haitink/dp/B07KM3HD6F/ref=sr_1_1?crid=HLE0R3E6J7YE&dchild=1&keywords=haitink+bruckner&qid=1608134285&s=music&sprefix=haitink+bruckner%2Caps%2C183&sr=1-1

[Bryn]

I see there's a 'favourite Bruckner symphony recordings' thread but this one is more specific. I asked this on the Bruckner thread but was ignored: so what are people's favourite symphony cycle recordings? I understand that there may well not be a definitive one...

Currently, this one. As to which will be top dog in a month's time, however . . .

[Joseph K]

I see there's a 'favourite Bruckner symphony recordings' thread but this one is more specific. I asked this on the Bruckner thread but was ignored: so what are people's favourite symphony cycle recordings? I understand that there may well not be a definitive one...