Bruckner 8 debate anyone??

[King Karajan]

It's my top symphony, I love it dearly and have a dozen versions. I'd love to hear your top picks. Mine are:

1. Giullini VPO (1981??)
2. Wand BPO (2000)
3. Furtwangler
4. Karajan (his last)
5. Barbirolli (bbc legends..my first one so it's sentimental)
6. Chailly
7. Schuricht
8. Boulez
9. Karajan (58??)
10. Tennsted (Can never spell that right?? LOL!)

The top 2 are very close and I chose 1 as I find Giullini to use the tempo to the symphony's advantage. It just teeters on the brink of spinning it's wheels for the sake of self importance but it doesn't. Giullini exudes all the passion and power that the 8th brings to your ears. Wand is very close indeed but just ever so slightly lacks the grandness of Giullini.

SO....what say you on this mighty work?

[Lethevich]

I am very fond of Tennstedt's red hot BSO live recording, and came to love Giulini's DG recording as well - a very special recording which I find hard to accurately describe, as it combined so many facets of great music making. Every note sounds like care was lavished onto it. I was introduced to the work via Mehta/Israeli PO, a quite accomplished recording, but a little on the plain side.

[mahler10th]

Yes, my favourite part of the whole symphony is the entry to the 4rth movement, urgent and demanding phrasing, like the charge of an army on horseback under a clarion of rising brass, seeking retribution and avengance.  It is still one of the most exciting entries to a movement out there.  

1. Giulini - VPO - 1985(?)
2. Sinoploi - Staatskapelle Dresden
3. Karajan (last one)
4. Celibidache - MPO (for fabulous detail, not for tempo)
5. Chially - brings new magic to the work

Least favoured:  Klemperer, Philharmonia, a great klonking brute wielded heavy - yes, he was well credited for his Bruckner, but it sounds like a giant snail which has been pieced together.

[Mark G. Simon]

Chailly's Bruckner 7 is the finest I've heard. I should really hear what he does with the 8th.

[jwinter]

It's my top symphony, I love it dearly and have a dozen versions. I'd love to hear your top picks. Mine are:

1. Giullini VPO (1981??)
2. Wand BPO (2000)
3. Furtwangler
4. Karajan (his last)
5. Barbirolli (bbc legends..my first one so it's sentimental)

SO....what say you on this mighty work?

A longtime favorite.  You have excellent taste, that's as good a top 5 as I can think of...

[King Karajan]

Thanks. The 8th will be a life long passion for me. It's been a number of years since a worthy 8th has come along. Could it be that all the 8th can say has been said? Furtwangler took liberties in Bruckner that (when hearing them) no one should take. But in the end they made sense. I think Furtwangler was the most important Brucknarian. He brought a freshness, a fiercely individualistic style that was all his own. I'd like to see Rattle or Gergiev go out on a limb and do something unique with the 8th. And I have always preferred the Haas edition to the others. I suppose I will always prefer the fuller text.

[imperfection]

The Celibidache/Munich PO is exquisite. Make sure you have a lot of spare time before listening though...

[King Karajan]

The Celibidache/Munich PO is exquisite. Make sure you have a lot of spare time before listening though...

I find his version a tad over indulgent. Much like Bernstien (in general). But a nice reading..although I haven't listened to it in a while. Perhaps another listen is in order.

[Herman]

I'd like to see Rattle or Gergiev go out on a limb and do something unique with the 8th.

I doubt either has anything really interesting to say in this symphony.

I used to love the Eighth a lot. Now the only Brucker I listen to at home is nr 6

[Lethevich]

I doubt either has anything really interesting to say in this symphony.

I used to love the Eighth a lot. Now the only Brucker I listen to at home is nr 6

The 6th has gradually become my favourite - from initially looking into it to try to evaluate its neglect, to eventually becoming obsessed. It boasts one of his best adagios, possibly his best first movement coda (and that is saying a lot), it's a wonderful little thing.

[mahler10th]

I find his version a tad over indulgent. Much like Bernstien (in general). But a nice reading..although I haven't listened to it in a while. Perhaps another listen is in order.

Yes Herr Karajan, it is very much in order.  There are some finer points highlighted in Celibidaches take that can make one weak,  And the quality of the recording is as hot as hell as can be.  Interetsing what you say about Tennstedt (correct spelling!), I love his big brash Mahler, so I'll have to investigate his Bruckner further.

I like this post.  Antons 8th does deserve its own thread.

[ChamberNut]

I'm not into purchasing multiple versions of works, but I may make an exception for Bruckner's 8th symphony.  I really feel this is my personal favorite of all symphonies, even now above Beethoven's 9th.  It speaks to me like no other music has ever.

I currently only have the Jochum's SD version.  I will start listening to other versions.  0:)

[Renfield]

Which Furtwängler, though? There is a number of them around.

Good list, BTW - I haven't heard the Chailly, and would certainly add Celibidache to the list, but I like it (the list).

[drogulus]

The 6th has gradually become my favourite - from initially looking into it to try to evaluate its neglect, to eventually becoming obsessed. It boasts one of his best adagios, possibly his best first movement coda (and that is saying a lot), it's a wonderful little thing.

     It's one of my favorites, too. The adagio is wonderful. And in this one Klemperer is excellent.

     I'm not a "versionist" either, because I think the differences get inflated just a wee bit by the passions of collectors. Still, I ought to get at least one other of the 8th (and the 6th). I have both Karajans (the later is better though I rather like some of the rougher Berlin reading). I haven't listened to the Tintner in too long to comment.

[jlaurson]

1. Wand, BPh (RCA)
3. Karajan, VPh (DG Gold)
4. Wand NDRSO, Luebeck (via Arkiv) (...and the reverb be damned)
5. Boulez, VPh, Linz (DG)
6. Boehm, BRSO, Munich (Audite)

Why not...

Chailly? I find it slick, beautiful, non-distinct, forgettable.

Celibidache? It doesn't work on recording. His 3rd, 5th, 6th are my absolute favorites. But his 4th, 7th, and 8th don't come across as cohesive... the long line is not kept as I am told it was in concert. (I'm talking EMI/Munich recordings, only.)

No second place because a.) I've not heard the Giulini yet and b.) so far, the BPh-Wand is at least that far ahead of the pack.

[jlaurson]

I doubt either has anything really interesting to say in this symphony.

I used to love the Eighth a lot. Now the only Brucker I listen to at home is nr 6

Having heard Gergiev's Parsifal (and plenty else, good and bad), I absolutely shudder at the thought of Gergiev mucking around with Bruckner. Ghastly idea.

Rattle... my instinct says--in that smart-alecy voice: "WHY?" But given how much I like Rattle's Bruckner 7th, I should shut up and listen first, were he ever to record it. He's certainly got a fine orchestra to do it with.

[Herman]

The 6th has gradually become my favourite - from initially looking into it to try to evaluate its neglect, to eventually becoming obsessed. It boasts one of his best adagios, possibly his best first movement coda (and that is saying a lot), it's a wonderful little thing.

     It's one of my favorites, too. The adagio is wonderful. And in this one Klemperer is excellent.

And may I add, the finale of nr 6 is utterly riveting. IMHO the most succesful Bruckner finale. One recording that gives a good contrast to Klemperer is the Blomstedt in San Francisco. Unfortunately there is no recording of Blomstedt doing nr 6 in Amsterdam around the same time (mid-eighties), that was a wonderful concert.

To return to nr 8 the harps are, obviously, a wonderful touch.

[Drasko]

Thankfully there are so many recordings to choose from, whatever ones preferences interpretatively. These days I tend to prefer it swift, clear, focused, with more momentum than monumentum, more open textured than blended across the sections (probably why most VPO choices), occasional orchestral flubs or less than ideal sound don't seem to bother me that much. Few choices, roughly chronological:

1. Furtwangler/VPO
2. Furtwangler/BPO ('49, the one with audience)
3. Klemperer/Koln RSO
4. Mravinsky/Leningrad
5. Schuricht/VPO
6. Kubelik/Bavarian RSO
7. Tennstedt/BSO (broadcast)
8. Bohm/VPO
9. Paita/PSO
10. Matacic/NHK SO
11. Boulez/VPO

Honorable mention for Krips/NYP for daring to go where no man has gone before

[Renfield]

Mravinsky and Klemperer would certainly top my "alternative favourites" list for the symphony; though I don't think I'd choose them over Karajan 1988, Furtwängler 1944, et al. I also realise I have that Kubelik I was just going to ask you about - I had completely forgotten!

[eyeresist]

I like:
* Boehm's live one (more convincing than the studio one),
* Karajan live '70s (on DG DVD - don't know if it's on CD. The only other HvK perf I've heard is in the complete set.)

Furtwangler is good but not for every day.
Tennstedt did not strike me as special.