Search - Anton Bruckner, Lorin Maazel, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra :: Bruckner: Symphony No. 8 in C minor

Very good, but not great Bruckner 8

Richard A. Cavalla | NJ, USA | 03/14/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is a solid, well-performed Bruckner 8 by Maazel and the Berliners. The pros are Maazel's tempo choices, which are consistently well-judged at 16'19 / 14'18 / 26'12 / 23'39 // 79'32, and the excellent control and attention to detail that Maazel brings. The bad news is that this is a rather studio-bound and, even more disappointing, a rather earth-bound Bruckner 8. Maazel fails to bring that extra level of intensity and conviction to the work. At budget price, it is a good place to start, but you'll need to hear Furtwangler/VPO, Knappertsbusch/BPO, and Celibidache/MPO to find conductors who, in my opinion, really do this work justice."

Simply Splended - A Bargain if There Ever was One

James Alan Ciammetti | 01/23/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This relase on EMI's Seraphim label at budget price is simply spectacular, and a bargain beyond belief. First of all, unlike many other recordings, this Bruckner 8th fits onto one CD. This doesn't mean Maazel is particularly fast, actually, he is quite middle of the road, with Karajan (in his fabled VPO recording) taking less than 3 minutes more than him. The first movement is excellent, well judged in architecture (the key in this movement), forward thrust, and tempo, though as with any of the movements in any of the Bruckner symphonies, tempo is one of the least important factors, contrary to what many people will tell you. Next you have a Scherzo which, at 14:18, is faster than Karajan's by 2 minutes, but actually right about where most people are, Karajan being the exception and taking it much slower than most. Here Maazel builds just slightly more tension, probably due to the faster tempo. The Adagio is exactly a minute longer than Karajan's, and is sublimely beatiful. It is just wonderful, building to climax after climax, and just sweeping you away. The Finale is absolutely fabulous, the sheer power behind the performance overwhelming. Karajan may have pumped more mystery and maybe slight bit more dramaticism out of this movement, but boy does Maazel let the music blast out of your speakers! He accomplishes all that, and, at the same time, keeps everything in place, the architecture clear. So, to sum up: Karajan is more mysterious and has an air of finality and wisdom about it which only Karajan could do, and only at that point in his life, while Maazel has just as good structure, playing, and more power. The biggest difference for most people will be price. Karajan is on 2 full price discs, while Maazel is on 1 budget price disc. The differences in performance don't make it worth buying the Karajan, unless you have a special reason to, or the money is burning a hole in your pocket. The Karajan is probably the better version (but just barely, and the recording isn't quite as naturally balanced and vividly recorded as this one, though never bad), if only slightly and because of the mystery and experience that Karajan had with the work. But keep in mind: The Karajan is $.., while the Maazel is $.. That means you're paying almost five times as much for Karajan. The choice is yours, and, whichever you pick, you will be making the right decision."

One of the great "sleeper" Bruckner Eighths

Into | everywhereandnowhere | 03/02/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"...and, as other reviewers have aptly pointed out, one of the best Bruckner bargains. When this recording first came out on CD, apparently it was just barely too long to fit on to one CD, and I have the 2-CD version, but I have never felt cheated. Now that they have managed to fit it on to one disc, it is a steal.



While this might not surpass some of the best versions--i.e. Giulini VPO on DG; Karajan mid-'70's BPO on DG; Haitink's early '80's Concertgebouw; Barenboim's BPO; Horenstein's LSO; Gunter Wand's last (BPO) recording of the Eighth; your favorite Furwangler; the '49 Hamburg Jochum; and I'm sure I'm forgetting to mention a few--it can certainly hold its own with most of the recordings in the catalog. I generally find Maazel to be a very hit-and-miss conductor, and I have found most of his recordings since about 1980 to be "misses"--i.e. his BPO Bruckner 7th is too slow; most of his Mahler is too slow, and lacking in contrasts; and most of his latest Sibelius cycle is too slow, and lacking the excitement of his earlier recordings--but this Eighth is definitely a "hit," and with one of the world's two greatest Bruckner orchestras to boot (the VPO is the other): great sound, with strong brass and timpani, and Maazel does not play it too close to the vest with tempos that are too slow and even.



If someone said to me, "I've only got ten bucks to spend and I want only one Bruckner Eighth," I would say, "Maazel!" without hesitation."