Bruckner: Symphony 8 (Karajan)

 

Herbert von Karajan recorded a fair number of Anton Bruckner's Symphony no. 8 in C minor.

The four I know are two with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, one from 1957 on EMI and this one from 1975 on DGG. More famously, there is another on DGG, but with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra on hand in 1988, considered a valedictory effort from the German conductor akin to the Seventh Symphony. The last is an infamous performance from 1944 with the Prussian State Orchestra; their final movement was bafflingly recorded in stereo, and must be heard to be believed. I will include a video link at the bottom of this post.

While most would point to the Vienna 1988 performance as ideal, I actually prefer this 70s one from Berlin. Conductor and orchestra are furiously intense and firmly concentrated on the music at hand. One would never accuse this team of underselling their performances, no matter what composer, but in 1975, they are vicious with this music. Even the sweeter moments are never simply left to be played as merely beautiful, but instead are done so with involvement and purpose at every turn.

At just over 80 minutes, this isn't a flabby performance either. Karajan was the slightest bit more measured in his other recordings, yet generally was of one mind as to how this music should go. I would daresay there is no reason to go elsewhere for the Eighth Symphony, but there is always more than one way to skin a cat.

 

 

 

Work
Symphony 8 in C minor, WAB 108 (Haas)
    I. Allegro moderato (16.45)
   II. Scherzo (15.08)
  III. Adagio (26.07)
  IV. Finale (24.06)

Performers
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Herbert von Karajan, conductor

Label: DGG
Year: 1975
Total Timing: 82.06

 

 

 

 

 Find more Bruckner recordings HERE!