Search - Bruckner-Brahms, Knappertsbusch, Sudfunk S.O. :: Hans Knappertsbusch Conducts Bruckner Symphony No. 5

On second thoughts...

04/23/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I must amend my previous review, based on familiarity with the Kna./VPO and Matacic/Czech. recordings of Schalk and part-Schalk. Having juggled with hi-cut and lo-cut filters on a more manipulative amplifier, I got tolerably acceptable sound from this Munich version and repeated hearing has improved my opinion. With the treble distortion and booming bass tamed, the performance is quite comparable to the VPO one, albeit a bit more heavily dramatic and losing a fair amount of audible detail in comparison with the Decca recording.
Both these Knapp. versions together with the Lovro von Matacic recording make a persuasive case for at least some of the Schalk amendments. The outer movements of the 5th have always presented almost insuperable difficulties for conductors and these few recordings of Schalk are at least as musically convincing as the best "authentic" versions ( and a lot better than the worst )."

Vastly improved sound of Kna's Bruckner 5th

01/16/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"For anyone interested in Knappertsbusch and Brucker, this re-engineered Brucker 5th on Music and Arts is well worth getting. It's the same performance in the set of Knappertsbusch/Brucker available on Music and Arts, but with vastly improved sound. The earlier edition was almost unlistenable and appeared to have been taken directly from the radio. This time, it sounds like Music and Arts must have got ahold of the original tapes, though in typical M & A fashion there are no notes describing the source. Kna's old school, lyrical rendition is very enjoyable, even if he does use the Schalk edition. Recommended to those interested in what a Bruckner performance might have sounded like when first performed. This symphony is so good, it can seemingly withstand any and all editions. While I wouldn't want to be without a modern version (Sinopoli is wonderful)I'll return often to this nostalgic performance."