More Sublime Bruckner from Schuricht
Johannes Climacus | Beverly, Massachusetts | 10/06/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The word "sublime" in the title of my review refers not only to the music (self-evidently, for these are Bruckner's greatest symphonic creations), but more pertinently to the performances. This live account of the Eighth with the SWR symphony orchestra from the early 1950's probes more deeply, despite patches of rough ensemble, than his 1964 studio recording with the VPO. Indeed, this performance must rank in the topmost echelon of recorded interpretations, such as those of Furtwängler, Horenstein and von Karajan. Schuricht conveys a riveting sense of occasion, with faster than usual tempos (except in the Adagio) and a dramatic tension that doesn't let up through over the long haul of this massive score. The SWR ninth is marginally less compelling. Though there are moments of keen insight, I found the overall conception somewhat episodic, and the SWR's execution more labored as well as conspicuously less accurate than in the case of the accompanying Eighth. I would also take issue with the unusually brisk account of the Ninth's Adagio (similar in this respect to Schuricht's later studio recording); though it doesn't quite sound rushed, I have come to expect a certain expansiveness, not only of tempo but also of mood in this movement, without which the intended impact of its near-death struggles don't fully tell.
This set is definitely worth your attention, particularly if you are an admirer of the conductor (one of the great Brucknerians). If you are not sure you want to invest in live performances of Bruckner, recorded in (perfectly decent) monaural sound, with an all-too-evidently provincial orchestra, but you remain interested in hearing Schuricht's distinctive take on this composer (plainspoken, but intense), I would search out the 2-CD set from EMI which includes his studio accounts both the Eighth and the Ninth. The VPO's playing is impeccable, the sonics feature good stereo perspective, and the interpretations, though a bit tamer than those reviewed here, are still among the finest ever recorded."
My favorite along with Bernstein's first interpretation
Blygman | Paris, France | 11/02/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I did not know this conductor before listening to this recording.
I could hear excerpts on Itunes and it is wonderfully tuneful, articulate and powerful.
Listen for yourself, you won't be disappointed.
It shows that no matter professionals recommendations, the best is to judge with your ears instead."
