Search - Anton Bruckner, Riccardo Chailly, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra :: Bruckner: Symphony No. 8

An outstanding new recording of Bruckner's zenith

Bruce Hodges | New York, NY | 10/14/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Of Bruckner's work, this symphony is surely his most triumphant and moving creation. From a few simple notes in a descending scale, he creates a vast landscape alternating between quietly touching passages and those that are thrillingly immense. Chailly and the Concertgebouw are in the midst of what appears to be a complete Bruckner cycle; they have already recorded numbers 2, 4, 5, 6, and 9. (Chailly recorded the 7th with the RSO Berlin, also excellent.) The Eighth is enormous - about 80 minutes long - and Chailly has the full measure of the work's massive structure, but takes care to allow the myriad details to come through. The half-hour long "Adagio" (for many listeners the high point of the piece) is done with great feeling and mystery, and the orchestra is as sublime as anyone could wish for. Actually, the playing everywhere is superb; take for example, the galloping, thrilling opening of the final movement. The sheer power of the orchestra will sweep you away. As someone who greatly admires this piece, I have a number of versions, with Haitink, Tennstedt, Karajan, Furtwängler and Welser-Möst as the most interesting so far. But this excellent newcomer is self-recommending, and fits on a single disc, making it a relative bargain as well. (NB: Chailly uses the Nowak edition, for those who are interested.)A great piece, performed by one of the finest orchestras in the world, collaborating with one of the world's great conductors. Spectacular sound to boot."

A spectacular recording, even for Chailly

jhorro | VA | 05/15/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I am familiar with several versions of this symphony; the Chailly recording really ties this symphony together. There are certain balancing issues in previous recordings that have been handled superbly in this version, especially in the last movement. I think Chailly is generally more thoughtful than either Boulez (in Vienna) or Kubelik (in Chicago), as fine as the new Boulez recording is. [This is not the Boulez of several years ago, but that is another matter.]
Bruckner is not new music to the Concertgebouw, but this is not the heavy reading that Karajan secured in Berlin. Perhaps the second Karajan version from Vienna has not been surpassed, but for those like myself who like a clean, studio recording with a first-class orchestra (which a Bruckner recording definitely needs), this is a safe and satisfying version, beautifully played."

Apocalyptic Bruckner

Erik North | San Gabriel, CA USA | 08/11/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Bruckner was a composer well known for creating symphonies on a huge scale for his cathedrals of sound, and the Eighth Symphony is proof of that, especially when heard in this apocalyptic 1999 London/Decca recording by Riccardo Chailly and the Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam.





Both conductor and orchestra are quite familiar with the massive works of Bruckner, and their combination produces massive dividends of sonic impact. The characteristic Bruckner traits--the strong tremelos; the sudden increases in volume; the massive chorales from the trombones, horns, trumpets, and tubas--are all in evidence in the Eighth (as well as the addition of harp and, in two places during the Adagio, cymbals), and Chailly gets the most from his Amsterdam forces in displaying them. The ominous opening measures prepare the listner for a nearly 80-minute journey of staggering proportions; and the epic scherzo is also handled with power. The final movement's vigorous opening measures presage the "Mars" section of Gustav Holst's "The Planets" by a good three decades, and the orchestra really lets out with a blast. Although not officially known by name, the Eighth is sometimes referred to as Bruckner's "Apocalyptic" Symphony. And from this explosive recording, it would more than live up to that appelation."