Favorite 3 Bruckner Symphonies

[Steve]

Do you like all movements of 5?

I have Jochum/Dresden and Furtwängler.

Dm, do by chance also have the Haitink as well?



Also which Jochum set EMI or DG?

[jwinter]

This is extremely tough.  I suppose I'll have to go with:

#8 -- Giulini WP
#9 -- either Kubelik on Orfeo or Bruno Walter
#7 -- maybe Karajan WP, though I don't have a clear favorite

Currently I have Barenboim's and Chailly's sets on my iPod, and have been enjoying comparing and contrasting the two...

[Keemun]

I voted for 7, 8 and 9. 

[Gustav]

Dm, do by chance also have the Haitink as well?



Also which Jochum set EMI or DG?

I have that, but I haven't had the time to listen to it. Ironically, I spent more time listening to Haitink's 7th from 1978 on Philips, i guess it's because i took me a little longer to find.

[Bonehelm]

 8 - HVK/VPO
5 - Wand/BPO
7 - HVK/VPO
4 - Wand/MPO

[Sergeant Rock]

Could anybody answer something I never could understand - which edition is Haitink using in his second Ninth with the Concertgebouw Orchestra (from the 1980s)? In the Coda of the first movement two sets of timpani reinforce the iambic rhythm in the lower brass, an effect I have never heard in another recording. It sounds colossal.

Haitink usually (always?) employs the Haas editions when performing Bruckner. Giulini uses Nowak in the Ninth and the difference in that coda is striking. Re-listening to Haitnk '81 just now makes me realize why it was my favorite Ninth for so many years. To borrow your adjective: a colossal performance.

Sarge

[Gustav]

Haitink usually (always?) employs the Haas editions when performing Bruckner. Giulini uses Nowak in the Ninth and the difference in that coda is striking. Re-listening to that Haitnk 1981 version just now makes me realize why it was my favorite Ninth for so many years. To borrow your adjective: a colossal performance.

Sarge

According to Berky's discography on Bruckner 9ths. Haitink has always used "1894 Original Version. Ed. Leopold Nowak [1951}".

[Sergeant Rock]

According to Berky's discography on Bruckner 9ths. Haitink has always used "1894 Original Version. Ed. Leopold Nowak [1951}".

What does he say about Giulini?

Sarge

[Gustav]

What does he say about about Giulini?

Sarge

check it out for yourself:
http://www.abruckner.com/recordings/default.htm?search=giulini

[Sergeant Rock]

check it out for yourself:
http://www.abruckner.com/recordings/default.htm?search=giulini

Thanks for the link; interesting site. I've bookmarked it. When a Haas edition is available, Haitink does use it. But there is no Haas edition for the Third and Ninth? The discography claims Giulini, Barenboim and Haitink use the same edition (the three recordings I've just listened to for comparison). Did Haitink add the timpani parts himself, I wonder? I'm going to listen to other recordings now.

Edit: No timpani reinforcement of the rhythm in Abendroth, Klemperer or Jochum either.

Sarge

[Cato]

I am surprised nobody has voted for Symphony #1, which is one of my favorites: full of energy and surprises and potential for the future!

I understand why the later symphonies have an advantage: maybe we should split the poll into favorite "earlier" and favorite "later" symphonies.   0:)

I have written elsewhere about the Finale of Jochum's Fifth Symphony on DGG being at half speed, something not indicated in the score.  It spoils things for me: his EMI recording is a little faster.

On the double timpani in the Ninth: my score (Nowak) is not at hand right now, but I will check it later.  My impression is that this is a Stokowskiesque addendum.

[Gustav]

I am surprised nobody has voted for Symphony #1, which is one of my favorites: full of energy and surprises and potential for the future!

I understand why the later symphonies have an advantage: maybe we should split the poll into favorite "earlier" and favorite "later" symphonies.   0:)

I am surprised my self that i haven't been able to "get" this symphony, no worries, I'll listen to the Abbado/DG one, i'll get it eventually.

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

I am surprised nobody has voted for Symphony #1, which is one of my favorites: full of energy and surprises and potential for the future!

On the double timpani in the Ninth: my score (Nowak) is not at hand right now, but I will check it later.  My impression is that this is a Stokowskiesque addendum.

It's only because I had to select only 3 that I couldn't get in the marvellous First, a firm favourite of mine ever since I bought an LP with Vaclav Neumann conducting it. I love all the poetic solos in this symphony (flute, horn).

Regarding the "Stokowskiesque addendum" - Haitink is not exactly known for tampering with scores just for effect...

[ChamberNut]

I'd have put Symphony No. 1 as my # 4 pick, honestly.

[Daverz]

It took a while for me to appreciate it too. In fact, it was the first Bruckner symphony I ever heard and it put me off the composer for five years But it, and Bruckner, eventually won me over.

What version of the 3rd?  They can be radically different.  The original version can seem to go on and on and on, so I do prefer the tighter final version.

[Sergeant Rock]

What version of the 3rd?  They can be radically different.  The original version can seem to go on and on and on, so I do prefer the tighter final version.

I can't recall now who conducted (it was a library copy) but it was probably the revised 1889 version. Almost everyone at that time (60s) played it (the sole recorded exception was Haitink, I believe, and I'm certain I didn't hear Haitink). You know, as a confirmed Wagnerite already, if it had been the original, with the Wagner quotes, I might have actually responded to it differently despite the added length.

Sarge

[Cato]

Regarding the "Stokowskiesque addendum" - Haitink is not exactly known for tampering with scores just for effect...

Agreed, but the Nowak score for the Ninth shows only a 32nd-note roll for the timpani, not any reinforcing for the brass motif.

[Lilas Pastia]

I went for 5. 6 and 9. But that's silly of course.  They are favourites, not best. Well, that's an open question... . I chose mine according to what I think are Bruckner's most personal utterances among his fully accomplished works.

Some of his works (or parts of them) have a slightly scholarly or 'official' feeling. Bruckner was always keen too impress and be acknowledged. That craving for recognition by his peers and critics may have led him to compose in a slightly 'learned' manner. Despite the finale of the 5th being the most 'learned' of all 44 symphony movements he completed, it's the one in which he won and conquered. No achievement was beyond him after that. But he may not have realized it.

I often think of the 9th as Jacob wrestling with the Angel.

[PerfectWagnerite]

IDespite the finale of the 5th being the most 'learned' of all 44 symphony movements he completed, it's the one in which he won and conquered. No achievement was beyond him after that. But he may not have realized it.

I agree with that. After that his music may sound different but they definitely didn't trump the finale of the 5th in quality. That is truly a stupendous movement in organic unity and mindblowing sustaining of tension.

[samtrb]

I have a slight preference to Giulini 9 Chicago over Jochum Dresden... i should give them a thorougher look
i know only n 3,4, 8, 9 so i cannot reply to the poll so far, am curious about 5 (now that i have the complete set of jochum!)