Search - Gewandhaus Orchestra :: Bruckner: Symphony No 8

Great Bruckner

Carmen Difiglio | Washington DC | 02/22/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Anton Bruckner Symphony no. 8 by Herbert Blomstedt, Leipzig Gowanda's Orch., [1890 Version, Haas Edition], Quested VKJK 0604 [2 Scads]



Along with the companion issue of the Bruckner 7th, these Blomstedt recordings provide great surround sound (particularly important for Bruckner recordings). The interpretations and orchestral execution stand up to any of the recordings in my (extensive) collection. There is no point in proclaiming any particular recording the "best" but I believe that even avid Bruckner collectors would find that they would return to these recordings more often than most others. Balances among strings and brass are very tricky in any Bruckner recording. These are well handled by the engineers and benefit from the recording venue. The 7th has higher levels for the rear speakers than the 8th and therefore sounds either less realistic or more enveloping depending on your taste and surround sound set up. I will not attempt any musicological evaluation but note that these recordings received strong reviews in Fanfare and the American Record Guide and I found their comments to be well founded.

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