Search - Bruckner, Solti, Cso :: Symphony 8

Proud testament to long Solti/CSO collaboration

emmkay | Illinois | 04/25/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Many people fault Solti for superficiality in his Bruckner and this is certainly true in some of his earlier recordings (such as the 4th with the CSO). This criticism is, however, completely out of place for this disc. Recorded on tour in St.Petersburg Russia, this disc captures the best of Solti and the CSO without some of the sonic inadequacies of earlier London/Decca recordings in the CSO's home hall.



Both Solti and the CSO show how much they have grown as interpreters of the German romantic repertoire over the years. The CSO displays a European warmth and breadth of coloring without ever sacrificing its legendary precision and virtuousity. The brass and woods in particular seem to have expanded their dynamic range and ability to blend, which accounts for some truly magical moments (particularly in the soft parts of the last two movements). Solti is almost unrecognizable when compared to the recording he made more than thirty years earlier with the Vienna Philharmonic (also out of print), which sounds restless, aggressive and superficial. Here, Solti finally connects with the spririt of Bruckner's work and produces something truly magical.



This recording deservedly belongs among the very best."

Excellent version of the 1890 Nowak edition

Howard G Brown | Port St. Lucie, FL USA | 06/25/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I like to think of the four main versions of the Bruckner 8th Symphony as the Four Books of the Testament. Tintner's recording of the "Book of 1887" is the clear choice of the original version, and Knappertsbusch/Munich is probably the best recording of the Book of 1892 -- as edited and revised by Franz Schalk. There are two editions of the 1890 revision: Haas and Nowak. Von Karajan/Vienna has become the classic recording, though I prefer his EMI version with the Berlin Phil. from 1958.Boulez, Haitink, Horenstein, Jarvi, and Wand contend for equal honors, and nearly match von Karajan's achievement.The Nowak edition of the 1890 version has been the preferred version among conductors for the past 45 years. One can't go wrong with recordings by Celibidache, Giulini, Jochum, Maazel, Skrowachewsky, Szell, and Tennstedt available -- but hold a place for this recording by Solti and the Chicago Syphony. It is a dramatic reading, brilliantly played and recorded -- including the most haunting account of the great Adagio's coda I have ever heard.I wish Decca would reissue this at midprice so that it could gain wider circulation, but it is worth the asking price right now -- that and more.Furtwaengler's recordings -- but for his final one with the VPO -- were a combination of Haas and the old 1892. They are unique, and should be on the shelf: the final testament, perhaps?"

Another expected CD of greatness from a great orchestra

Howard G Brown | 05/03/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I remember I first heard the CSO live back in February of 2004. I knew they were great but the live performance cemented it.Since that point, I have not only committed myself to a carrer in composition and orchestral trombone playing, but most of the CD's I buy are with the CSO; they are the first orchestra I look at when I want to purchase a new CD. This Bruckner CD is just one of the many that I discovered. I was immediately impressed with the sheer volume of sound bestowed upon me by the brass, especially the trombones( Jay Friedman is my hero!). Although not recorded in what many people consider to be the golden age of the CSO( this recording being recorded, I believe, in the early '90's), the detail and precision, the depth and musicality, the sound and grandeur, that I and other picky CD critics look for, is, without a doubt displayed in this recording. Of course, every CD has its faults and it would be foolish of me to tell you that this is a perfect recording.But, as with most recorded CSO pieces, it is very near perfect. The end of the 4th mvt. will blow you away with the trombones pronouncing the closing call. All in all, a fantastic display of the authority of Solti and the power of the CSO."