Disappointing
David Saemann | 09/02/2008
(3 out of 5 stars)
"I listened to this CD after hearing Georg Tintner's CD of the original, 1872 version of the score. Karajan utilizes cuts from Bruckner's 1876 version, along with its reversal of the 2nd and 3rd movements. After hearing the original version, I just find that I can't listen to Karajan's CD comfortably. It is 11 minutes shorter than Tintner's, and I find that the music needs more time than Karajan's text gives it to spread its wings. With the 1876 cuts, the piece's tunes just seem to collide with one another without any logic. Also, the slow movement really belongs third, as in Bruckner's 8th. For those listeners who still like Karajan's version of the score, I should note that his performance is very well played, but features early digital sound engineering that is much too close up and lacking in tonal allure. Nevertheless, I would urge all Brucknerians to hear Tintner's recording. It firmly places the 2nd among the greatest of this composer's works."