YOUR Bruckner cycle

[mahlertitan]

There are many great individual performances of Bruckner's symphonies, so which recordings completes YOUR Bruckner cycle? In other words, what is your favorite recording for each symphony, it doesn't have to be made up of strictly individual performances, it could also be from a complete cycle.

mine:
#                  conductor/Orchestra
1                   Jochum/SD
2                   Tintner/INSO
3                   Tintner/RSNO
4                   Wand/NDRSO
5                   Jochum/RCO
6                   Solti/CSO
7                   Karajan/WP
8                   Boulez/WP
9                   Giulini/WP

[beclemund]

Well, it could change tomorrow, but currently here are the ones I prefer (I had to list two for some though--I am not brave enough to restrict myself to one favorite and two is still a stretch):

2 Giulini, WSO
3 Tennstedt, SBR or Knappertsbusch, WP
4 Böhm, WP
5 Sinopoli, SSKD or Jochum, KCO
6 Celibidache, MPO or Stein, WP
7 Matačić, Čf
8 Giulini, WP or Karajan, WP
9 Walter, CSO or Giulini, WP

I have not really identified a favorite 1st as I have yet to explore that symphony.

[rw1883]

Wow...tough to pick just one, but if I had to:

0: Barenboim (CSO-1979)
1: Asahina (Osaka Phil-1977)
2: Giulini (Vienna Phil-1974)
3: Kubelik (Bavarian Radio-1970)
4: Celibidache (Munich Phil-1993)
5: Furtwangler (Berlin Phil-1942)
6: Asahina (Tokyo SO-1984)
7: Matacic (Slovene Phil-1984)
8: Wand (Berlin Phil-1996)
9: Giulini (Vienna Phil-1988)

Again, it's very hard to pick just one...especially 4-9.

[M forever]

Matačić, CPO (or is that CF, M Forever? )

Actually, if you want to be correct, it's Čf...

[beclemund]

Actually, if you want to be correct, it's Čf...

Haha! I should have known better!

[val]

My choice is Jochum with the BPO (in the First, 4th, 7th, 8th and 9th) and the BRO in the others.

Regarding the first, the 4th and the 8th I never heard better.
The 2nd has here the problem of the edition, in special in the Adagio. Chailly would be an acceptable choice for the original version.
In the 3rd, I never liked much Jochum. But, from the legendary Knappertsbusch (VPO) to the more recent Barenboim (BPO) there are some remarkable interpretations, using other versions.

In the 5th, Jochum himself did better in his recording with the Concertgebow Orchestra.

In the 6th, Jochum is extraordinary in the Adagio, but in the first and 4th movement Sawallisch is not inferior.

Regarding the 7th and 9th, Jochum is very good but I prefer Böhm (VPO) in the 7th and Furtwängler (BPO, 1944), Giulini (VPO) and Van Beinum (Concertgebow) in the 9th.

[david johnson]

too many good ones!!!

i'm only a little picky;
4 barenboim/chicago
6 bongartz/leipzig gewandhaus orchestra
8 eichorn/brucknerhaus orkest
9 karajan/bpo and giulini/chicago

[vandermolen]

Of the ones I listen to most often

No 3 Szell (Sony)

No 4 Klemperer (EMI)

No 5 Haitink (Phillips)

No 6 Klemperer (EMI)

No 7 Rosbaud (Vox/Turnabout)

No 8 Horenstein (Vox/Turnabout)

No 9 Furtwangler (1944)

[DarkAngel]

3 - Kubelik/Sony
4 - Klemperer/EMI
5 - Sinopoli/DG
6 - Klemperer/EMI
7 - Karajan/VPO/DG
8 - Bohm/EMI Great Conductors of 20th century
9 - Giulini/VPO/DG

[Bruckner is God]

0      Solti /CSO
1      Abbado/WP
2      Barenboim/BP
3      Böhm/WP
4      Celibidache/MP
5      Sinopoli/SD
6      Klemperer/NPO
7      Jochum/SD
8      Haitink/WP
9      Giulini/WP

[rubio]

8 - Bohm/EMI Great Conductors of 20th century

Have you had the chance to compare this one with his VPO performance (which I have and like a lot)?

[Lilas Pastia]

They're rather different, and in all cases these differences are in favour of the Vienna performance. Not that the Cologne is inferior. It's actually on a very high level. But it's faster, less well executed and recorded. For Böhm in volatile mood, the Palexa with the Zürich Tonhalle orchestra really sizzles. It's from 1978 and is quite well played and recorded. Whatever the time, orchestra and context (live, studio), Böhm brought tremendous authority and commitment to the 8th.

Actually, the Böhm VPO is what they play in Heaven:

Bruckner arrives in heaven (1890, unknown artist)

[Sergeant Rock]

With the exception of the Fifth, I prefer my Bruckner slow. Most of my choices reflect that.

Study Symphony - Inbal RSO Frankfurt
0 - Chailly RSO Berlin
1 - Chailly RSO Berlin
1 - Tintner Royal Scottish (original unrevised version)
2 - Barenboim Berlin Phil
3 - Celibidache Munich Phil
3 - Tintner Royal Scottish (original version)
4 - Karajan Berlin Phil (EMI)
5 - Dohnányi Cleveland
6 - Klemperer New Philharmonia
7 - Celibidache Munich Phil
8 - Celibidache Munich Phil
9 - Giulini Vienna Phil

Sarge

[DarkAngel]

Have you had the chance to compare this one with his VPO performance (which I have and like a lot)?

Yes indeed, I have 3 Bohm 8ths:

-VPO/DG Galleria 1977
-Cologne Radio SO/Great Conductors 20th Century 1974 (live)
-Tonehalle Orchestra/Palexa 1978 (live)

The 1977 VPO is more toned down and straight forward a masterful account, the live Cologne version is more dramatic, intense and very powerful.....the best 8th I have ever heard, the Bohm version Great Conductors 20th Century sells very high price used for this Bruckner 8th plus an oustanding Schubert 9th also included, Bohm is my favorite edition of this series.........the Schuricht version also contains a stellar Bruckner 8th and again sells very high price used.

The Tonehalle 8th by Bohm is more similar to the Cologne 8th but not quite as balanced or refined, a bit rough around the edges but very powerful and intense

[rubio]

the live Cologne version is more dramatic, intense and very powerful.....the best 8th I have ever heard, the Bohm version Great Conductors 20th Century sells very high price used for this Bruckner 8th plus an oustanding Schubert 9th also included, Bohm is my favorite edition of this series

My local shop still have this one for a normal price, so I think I have to purchase before it disappears.

[DarkAngel]

My local shop still have this one for a normal price, so I think I have to purchase before it disappears.

Grab it!.........Amazon only has one seller for $24.50 currently

[Daverz]

the Schuricht version also contains a stellar Bruckner 8th and again sells very high price used.

The Schuricht 8 & 9 will be reissued in Japan in a few days.

[jochanaan]

These are the ones I have in my library:

0: Tintner/National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland on Naxos.  The recorded sound is only fair, but the playing is good, and I generally like Tintner's straight-ahead style.

1: Riccardo Chailly/RSO Berlin on London.  A fine recording; I'm not sure how I feel about Chailly's rather sudden slowdown, but the playing and recorded sound are fine.

2: Horst Stein/Vienna Philharmonic on London LP.  The playing is so magnificent I listen in awe every time.

3: Wand/NDR-Symphonieorchester on RCA.  Normally I like Bruckner slow and deliberate, like Sarge, but Wand is special.  I only wish the recording had more depth of sound.

4: None.  I literally wore out a cassette of the fiery old Klemperer/Vienna Symphony recording!  (I don't feel a need to replace this immediately, since I've played it myself in two different orchestras. )

5: Haitink/Concertgebouw on Philips LP.  I think this is from the early 1970s; as usual with Haitink, it's sober and flawless.

6: Celibidache/Munich on EMI.  'Nuff said.

7: Carl Schuricht/The Hague Philharmonic on Nonesuch LP.  Bright, shallow recording and orchestral sound, but a solid, old-fashioned, very satisfying reading.

7: Barenboim/Berlin Philharmonic on Teldec.  Deep and beautiful.

8 (1887): Tintner/NSO Ireland on Naxos.  See #0.

8 (1890): Celibidache/Munich on EMI.  Once you get accustomed to the extremely slow tempos in the outer movements, this recording is utterly magnificent.

9: Karajan/Berlin Phil on DG LP.  I think this is from the 1970s cycle; it only misses being great because of the terribly shallow recorded sound.

9: Wand/Berlin Phil on RCA, recorded 1998.  Thankfully, the sound is pretty good here.  Wand, surprisingly, actually takes more time than Karajan on the first movement, but it doesn't sound like it; where Karajan uses a slow and steady tempo, Wand takes the basic tempo a little faster but lets the Brucknerian pauses breathe much more.  A magnificent recording.

As you see, I've tended toward the "cut and paste" approach, mostly because of budgetary considerations.  I think, if I were to buy a cycle, it would be the Celibidache or, if I could afford it, one of the Asahina sets.  Or I might buy as many Bruno Walter recordings as I can find.

[MISHUGINA]

Symphonies 0-3, Tintner is my favorite, period.

#4 - Jochum/BPO (EMI)
#5 - Wand/North German Radio-Symphony (RCA)
#6 - Tough call, but finally relent to...Klemperer/New Philharmonia (EMI)
#7 - Haitink/Concergebouw (Phillips)
#8 - Giulini, either VPO (DG) or live Philharmonia Orc (BBC Legends)
#9 - Harnoncourt/VPO (RCA)

[Lilas Pastia]

I'm glad to see someone else rooting for the Schuricht-Hague 7th. In all logic it should be relegated to the dustbin (because of the sound and crude playing), but it is also really magical. It makes the work "happen", whereas in so many well-groomed versions it just purrs like an overweight ragdoll cat.