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Best Sounding Bruckner Recordings

There is a Mahler for Audiophiles thread here, but I am not sure if there is one for Bruckner.  IMO these are the two Composers that benefit the most from high quality sound.  Both Composers relied extensively upon spatial effects.  Bruckner, with his Organist background, was conscious of reverberation effects, and tended to treat the entire Orchestra as one vast Organ.  Mahler had many spatial effects built into his Symphonies.
  I listen to many historical recordings, but I find that these two composers suffer the most when sonically compromised.  I have no problem enjoying a Toscanini Beethoven Symphony, as the majesty of the music and the playing overcome sonic limitations.  However, listening to the Horenstein Bruckner Seventh from 1927 is a real trial.  Even the best restorations make it sound like it was recorded in a phone booth, and the towering beauty of the piece is missing.
  Now, with Bruckner, we have the problem of all of those multiple editions.  I am going to confess straight out that I have no expertise here .  And given that this is an audiophile site, I will concede readily that the best sounding Bruckner recordings may not necessarily be the ultimate in recorded performance.  However, I am looking for comments about great sounding Bruckner recordings that are also good performances 
mahler123
brownsfan
1,508 posts
 
My first Bruckner was Barenboim/Chicago #4, followed by HvK #9, followed by Jochum/Dresden 6 and 8, all on vinyl.  It was the Jochum that pulled me in on Bruckner.  Barenboim put me to sleep and HvK had me looking over my shoulder in fear. 
I really think Bruckner is done a great disservice by comparing him to Mahler.  He is never, in my opinion, going to fare well in that comparison.  I think it is much better to let him stand on his own and speak with his own voice.   
What that voice should be I leave to others who are better positioned than me to comment.  But I do think Venzago takes a stab at something different.  Elsewhere I stated that Venzago's Bruckner is for people who don't love Bruckner.  Each symphony is recorded in a different venue with a different orchestra, so recording quality varies as you work your way through the set. 
mahler123 OP
3,362 posts
 
  I agree that the constant comparisons between Bruckner and Mahler are a disservice to both Composers.  I have always thought, however, that these are the two Composers that benefited most from the advent of the long playing (lp) record.  I personally heard Mahler/5 and Bruckner/7 both in concert prior to hearing any recorded performance.  Both times I reacted negatively; at the time I was still absorbing Mozart, Beethoven, Tchakovsky, Bach, Handel....you know, the certifiable greats.  Mahler and Bruckner were just then entering the Canon, but it took the availability of recordings in my case to permeate my prejudices.  I could listen to 1 or 2 movements at a time and get accustomed to the style and recognize the landmarks.  Then having a toehold of interest, I was more receptive to, and ultimately able to appreciate the beauty.  I don’t think that my experience is unique, and I don’t think that improvements In playback technology after WWII are given the credit that it deserves for developing interest in both Composers 
edgewear
543 posts
 
I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Otto Klemperer. His stoic and some would say 'architectural' approach is congenial to Bruckner's music. His 1960's recordings of #4, 5, 6 & 7 on UK Columbia are the ideal representation for me and the sonics are generally excellent (on original vinyl, can't comment on the digital transfers).

Unfortunately his tempi became erratically slow in his last years and his HMV recordings of #8 & 9 suffered from this. Here my choice would be Schuricht on HMV for both symphonies and Walter on CBS for #9. Klemperer never recorded the first 3 symphonies. While I don't care much for #1 & 2, I do regret he never did #3. Szell on UK Columbia and Böhm with the VPO on Decca are great alternatives with great sonics (again on original vinyl).

P.S. I'm not a big HvK fan either, but his last live recording of #8 on DGG is rather special. 


lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,417 posts
 
Klemperer's Bruckner is excellent and is how I imagine early Bruckner was performed.  
I'd love to hear these performances on vinyl. I own the CD boxed set and although I enjoy it and has been well remastered by EMI, it's far from sounding like analogue.
 

mahler123 OP
3,362 posts
 
I have the Klemperer set of 4-9 on Warner.  Are those the recordings that were on UK Columbia that @edgewear refers to?  They are also available on Qobuz.  They are pretty impressive sonically and generally respect the architecture.  My only complaint is that they never seem to soar.  The bar lines are always holding us back.  However, I should relisten 
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