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Best Sounding Bruckner Recordings

There is a Mahler for Audiophiles thread here, but I am not sure if there is one for Bruckner.  IMO these are the two Composers that benefit the most from high quality sound.  Both Composers relied extensively upon spatial effects.  Bruckner, with his Organist background, was conscious of reverberation effects, and tended to treat the entire Orchestra as one vast Organ.  Mahler had many spatial effects built into his Symphonies.
  I listen to many historical recordings, but I find that these two composers suffer the most when sonically compromised.  I have no problem enjoying a Toscanini Beethoven Symphony, as the majesty of the music and the playing overcome sonic limitations.  However, listening to the Horenstein Bruckner Seventh from 1927 is a real trial.  Even the best restorations make it sound like it was recorded in a phone booth, and the towering beauty of the piece is missing.
  Now, with Bruckner, we have the problem of all of those multiple editions.  I am going to confess straight out that I have no expertise here .  And given that this is an audiophile site, I will concede readily that the best sounding Bruckner recordings may not necessarily be the ultimate in recorded performance.  However, I am looking for comments about great sounding Bruckner recordings that are also good performances 
mahler123

Showing 8 responses by lowrider57

lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,396 posts
 
Gunther Wand/BPO Live (RCA Red Seal) is my go to for 
excellent performances with great sound. The imaging and detail revealed is exceptional for non-audiophile releases.

Giulini with the VPO (DG) is a favorite even with the over-mic'd brass section. My favorite #2 is Giulini with the VPO on Testament.

Kurt Sanderling's #7 with the SWR Sinfonieorchester is in very good sound.

For excellence in performance I still go to the Furtwängler box set, VPO & BPO. Music & Arts did a remarkable restoration of symphonies 4-9.


 
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,396 posts
 
@roxy1927,
Audience noise is minimal from what I recall. It's not filled with coughing and such, maybe some movement in the seats. Overall, these are compelling performances. 
I generally like Furtwängler's changes in tempo, except in a few areas where they are too fast and rushed. But these are few and far between.
A very worthwhile listen, now streaming on Qobuz.

lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,396 posts
 
@brownsfan , I agree with you regarding Von K's Bruckner. I like a couple of his interpretations, but in general I don't hear of feel the different emotions in his Bruckner.
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,396 posts
 
Karajan's performances of Bruckner #4, 7, 8 on EMI circa 1970 are magnificent IMO. The young Karajan with his Berliners approach Bruckner slowly and with such passion. These are the recordings that move me.

@mahler123, I absolutely agree with you regarding the completion of the 9th symphony. A fourth movement is unnecessary and "those final mystical chords" provide a finality to the beautiful adagio and preceding movements.




lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,396 posts
 
Klemperer's Bruckner is excellent and is how I imagine early Bruckner was performed.  
I'd love to hear these performances on vinyl. I own the CD boxed set and although I enjoy it and has been well remastered by EMI, it's far from sounding like analogue.
 

lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,396 posts
 
The boxed set I own is with the New Philharmonia/ Philharmonia released in 2012 on EMI. I see on Qobuz these are now branded Warner. The performances range from 1960 to 1970, so very late period Klemperer.

lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,396 posts
 
Oops, they were remastered and Amazon lists different orchestras than Qobuz. (In mono).
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,396 posts
 
I’m now listening to Klemperer with the WDR Koln on Qobuz, #4, 7, 8. These are from the 1950s and are superior performances; lively  but still rather reserved. They could do with some remastering, but so far I’m enjoying #4.

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