Anton Bruckner - Symphonies Nos. 3 & 8 (Bernard Haitink)

Information

Composer: Anton Bruckner

CD1:

1. Symphony No. 3 in D minor (1877, ed. Nowak): 1. Gemäßigt, mehr bewegt, misterioso
2. Symphony No. 3 in D minor (1877, ed. Nowak): 2. Adagio. Bewegt, feierlich, quasi Andante
3. Symphony No. 3 in D minor (1877, ed. Nowak): 3. Scherzo: Ziemlich schnell
4. Symphony No. 3 in D minor (1877, ed. Nowak): 4. Finale: Allegro
5. Symphony No. 8 in C minor (1878/90,ed. Haas): 1. Allegro moderato

CD2:

1. Symphony No. 8 in C minor (1878/90,ed. Haas): 2. Scherzo: Allegro moderato - Trio: Langsam
2. Symphony No. 8 in C minor (1878/90,ed. Haas): 3. Adagio: Feierlich langsam, doch nicht schleppend
3. Symphony No. 8 in C minor (1878/90,ed. Haas): 4. Finale: Feierlich, nicht schnell

Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Bernard Haitink, conductor
Date: 1988 (No. 3), 1985 (No. 8)
Label: Philips
www.deccaclassics.com/us/cat/4705342

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Review

Haitink’s Best Bruckner Eighth

These digital remakes offer excellent performances of both symphonies. Bernard Haitink's first recording of the Third (with the Concertgebouw) remains one of his finest Bruckner performances, and although some listeners may well prefer it to this more sober, grandiose rendition, there's no contesting the excellence of the playing or the sincerity of Haitink's approach. The Adagio has particular cogency, and the version used (the 1877 Oeser edition) strikes an excellent balance between the wildness of the original and the excessively chopped up "final" score published by Nowak. Sonically the digital recording is good but a touch dry and not quite as colorful as it could be.

Regarding the Eighth Symphony, the third time's a charm, for this easily is Haitink's finest performance, and the monumental approach suits such a monumental score. If the Third Symphony evokes memories of the celebrated Böhm recording, this Eighth has something of the epic majesty of Giulini, though with tempos a bit fleeter and with a welcome use of the marginally longer Haas edition. Haitink's account of the finale is one of the finest around, and the Vienna Philharmonic plays the music as only it can, which is to say magnificently, if you like a horn-led brass section. Sonically this performance is warmer and more expansive than the Third.

-- David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday

More reviews:
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2002/Oct02/Bruckner38.htm
http://www.amazon.com/Symphonies-3-8-Haitinik/dp/B000069KIV

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Anton Bruckner (4 September 1824 – 11 October 1896)) was an Austrian composer. His symphonies are considered emblematic of the final stage of Austro-German Romanticism because of their rich harmonic language, strongly polyphonic character, and considerable length. Bruckner composed eleven symphonies, scored for a fairly standard orchestra. His orchestration was modeled after the sound of his primary instrument, the pipe organ.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anton_Bruckner

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Bernard Haitink (born 4 March 1929) is a Dutch conductor. In his glowing career, he is the principal conductor of the Royal Concertgebouw (1959-1988), London Philharmonic (1967-1979), Chicago Symphony (2006-2010) and and principal guest conductor Boston Symphony (1995-2004). Haitink has conducted and recorded a wide variety of repertoire, with the complete symphonies of Beethoven, Brahms, Schumann, Tchaikovsky, Bruckner, Mahler, Shostakovich and Vaughan Williams, and the complete piano concertos of Beethoven and Brahms with Claudio Arrau notable among his recordings.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard_Haitink

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