Alex Ross has an interesting list of his favorite Bruckner recordings, an addendum to his article in The New Yorker this week.
I haven’t heard all (or maybe any) of his favorites … just the same conductors leading different Bruckner symphonies.
He mentions Giulini’s recording of the Ninth with the Vienna Philharmonic, which I’ve always been meaning to get around to listening to but never quite have. Perhaps because Giulini’s recording of the same work with the Chicago Symphony is so awesome and satisfying, the kind you can slap on the stereo to impress your friends with.
I’ve been thinking for a couple days now, and I don’t really have too many Bruckner recordings to add to Alex’s list.
I’d add a relatively little-known account of the Symphony No. 2, led (again) by Giulini, this time with the Vienna Symphony. It’s really a must-have for Brucknerites.
As for the Symphony No. 6 (Alex recommends Klemperer), I’d say Daniel Barenboim’s early recording with the Chicago Symphony on DG is pretty hard to beat. But good luck finding it.
Alex, who cut his Brucknerian teeth on Karajan’s DG recordings (I did too), didn’t find them as impressive when he listened to them again recently. I wonder why, and whether or not it might be the CD transfers. The vinyl of same had a magical hue, an extra bonus added by the engineers, and nothing to sniff at.
At any rate, I still count Karajan’s first DG account of the Fourth Symphony (no, not the one on EMI) as the best recording of that work. But then, you shouldn’t trust me, because it was my first record, and first records always hold something extra special for those who bought them.
But the post has piqued my curiosity, and I listened to quite a bit of Eugen Jochum’s account of the Eighth today … in the car. Bruckner must be the absolute worst composer to listen to in the car, because to hear the soft stuff (at least in my car) you have to turn the volume way up, and you know what that means — the loud stuff blows you out of your seat.
I’ve also managed to put my hands on Karl Bohm’s famous and much-admired recording of the Fourth with the Vienna Philharmonic (it took a little digging). I’ve never heard it, but thanks to Alex, I will in the next few days.
What are some of your favorite Bruckner recordings? Please, dear blognescenti, name them in the comments section.
classical life 
When it comes to Bruckner, I strongly favor his choral works. Love ’em. Favorite recording would be “15 Unaccompanied Sacred Motets” by Jonathan Brown and the Ealing Abbey Choir (on the “Herald” label). I almost always prefer mixed voice SATB choirs vs. ones with boys singing the higher parts as is typical in the British tradition; however, this one is the exception. Not only does it have all of my favorites, the power, clarity, and phrasing is superb, especially in the “Christus Factus Est” (III), Wab 11. I like it so much I never searched out anything else — any suggestions would be very much appreciated.
I also have a DG recording of Jochum conducting “Te Deum” (Berlin Phil & Deutsche Oper Chorus) and”Motets and Psalm 150″ (Bavarian Radio Orchestra). It is impressive in its own right, but a bit too operatic and vibrato-laden for my taste.
I’m MUCH less into Bruckner symphonies. Making me pick a favorite Bruckner symphony is kinda like asking me to tell you what my favorite Buick is: I’ll do it, but I’m not sure how much good it’ll do you. . . . However, since you asked so nicely:
My favorite Bruckner symphony from our personal library would have to be Bruno Walter conducting the 7th (CBS Masterworks).
For reference, rounding out CKDH family Bruckner collection are:
Fourth: Salonen, Los Angeles Philharmonic (Sony)
Fifth: Haitink, Vienna Philharmonic (Phillips)
Eighth: Karajan, Vienna Philharmonic (DG)
Eighth: Haitink, Royal Concertgebouw (Royal Concertgebouw 120th Anniversary release)
BTW: Totally agree that Bruckner is awful music for the car, even if you have a good sound system. I remember getting the Salonen 4th and trying to listen to it on the way to a Hollywood Bowl concert: During the opening horn call w/ strings underneath, I thought it wasn’t playing so I kept turning the volume up — and Mrs. CKDH almost killed me when the full orchestra finally kicked in and scared the cr@p out of her.
Of course, that disc was a bit of a disappointment even on the sound system at home. IMHO, one of Sony’s worst efforts.
I liked the performance more than Sony’s production … I thought Salonen’s Bruckner 6 a couple of seasons ago was terrific.
Yes, Sony did Salonen & the orchestra no favors. I really enjoyed their live performance of the 4th, so my assumption is that my problems with that disc are all about the production quality (or lack thereof).
Never heard the 6th in person or on a recording. I remember considering going to that concert to hear Michele Zukovsky play the Mozart clarinet concerto, but the Bruckner scared me off.
I have to cast some votes for Giulini’s recordings of 7 and 8 also with Vienna on DG. Both, but especially the 8th, are stunning.
Of the early symphonies, Barenboim doing #0 and #1 are also excellent. Both are DG, but I’m not sure #1 is still in print.
And, yes, Salonen’s 6th with LA a few seasons ago was terrific.
Thanks, Chris. I don’t have Giulini’s 8th — I’ll have to get it.
I wish Salonen/LA Phil had recorded that 6th.
I’ve got a couple old favorites – Klemperer for the 9th (the scherzo will blow your socks off), Furtwangler for the 7th & 8th. The word “transcendental” does not do just to the slow movement of the 7th or the finale of the 8th.
Celibidache.