Search - Anton Bruckner, Carl Maria von Weber, Felix [1] Mendelssohn :: Bruckner: Symphony No. 8; Overtures by Mendelssohn, Nicolai, Wagner & Weber

Karajan/BPO, 1958...

Sébastien Melmoth | Hôtel d'Alsace, PARIS | 10/18/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

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On the question of Bruckner 8ths:



This is Karajan's first (studio recorded) outing with the 8th, and it is spectacular:



Karajan/BPO, 1958:



I. Allegro moderato [17'05"]

II. Scherzo & Trio [16'04"]

III. Adagio [27'31"]

IV. Finale [26'17"]



True Brucknerians will know...



Also reissued w/different cover and additional material: Bruckner: Symphonie No. 8; Wagner: Lohengrin & Parsifal Preludes .

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A great Eighth from 1957, but in limited sound

Santa Fe Listener | Santa Fe, NM USA | 03/02/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In 1957, if Karajan had recorded this Bruckner Eighth with RCA, it would have been preserved in gorgeous Living Stereo. Unfortunately, EMI gave him limited, boxy sonics that severely cramp the breadth of Bruckner's monumental sound world. The new remastering in the "Karajan Collection" may be a notch better than the one heard in "the Karajan Edition," but the differences aren't major.



Despsite the muffled climaxes and narrow soundstage, this is a great reading, like the bettr known ones on DG, the first contained in the box set of complete symphonies, the second a valedictory performance with the Vienna Phil. from 1988, a year before Karajan died. Acclaimed as that recording is, this one is more sensitive and deeply felt. Karajan's handling of the episodic finale is patient and without bombast, knitting the segments together better than the composer himself could.



The fillers from the Seventies are in much better sound, although it's a little jarring to move from Bruckner to the lightness of Mendelssohn. In all, this reissue rivals Furtwangler's famous wartime reading of the Bruckner Eighth from Vienna and reinforces Karajan's claim to be the foremost conductor of a generation."

Bruckner 8th Symphony plus other pieces

Michael J. Cook | Skokie, IL | 09/16/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The late Herbert von Karajan had a special affinity for Bruckner's most important symphony, the 8th. He made 3 recordings, if I've tallied them correctly. One of the reviewers on this page for this recording offered this description of von Karajan's earliest recording of the 8th: "mystical". That's a word I would attribute to Furtwangler. Both recordings have much to commend for themselves. Von Karajan's is more rhythmically paced, but is somewhat ethereal in the famous Adagio (third movement). The other pieces by Wagner, Mendelssohn and Nicolai are beautifully played as well."