Customer Reviews

Bruckner: 9 Symphonies [Box Set]

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This is the budget re-release of the greatest set of the complete Bruckner symphonies ever recorded. I paid more than twice this amount when I purchased the set back in the early 1990s, but even at that it has been worth every penny. If you are interested in a complete Bruckner set, do yourself a favor and without hesitation throw this into your shopping cart ASAP.

I have posted an earlier review of the original set, but to summarize, Karajan is the greatest Bruckner conductor of all time, to my ears. I am in total awe of what Karajan achieved with this set, and I can't think of any other recorded legacy that is more important. Every single symphony except for #1 receives a compelling performance, and symphonies 2,4,5,6,7,8, and 9 receive *exceptional* performances (#3 is a fine enough performance, but Karajan uses the highly edited 3rd version, and I prefer the unedited first version in Tintner's exceptional recording). Karajan's interpretations are magnificent and go right to the soul of this deeply moving music (and without disruptive eccentricities). And the playing of the Berlin Philharmonic has to be heard to be believed--the balance, the tone, the beautiful sonorities--it's hard to not think that this represents their finest hour(s), so to speak. The Berlin Philharmonic's playing in this set is the greatest orchestral playing I have ever heard--in any works. What an achievement for Karajan and the orchestra, and what a great gift to all of us, to have this amazing set that goes right to the soul of this deeply moving music.

There are some criticisms of the sound, mostly justified (except for #5 and #9, whose sound I would not touch). The good news is that because the performances are so compelling and the orchestral playing so stunning, not only does your ear quickly adjust, but before long you are never even questioning that the sound is an issue. Would this set have benefited from a remastering? Without doubt. Will the sound as it is prevent you from treasuring these recordings? Absolutely not.

In the end, the final bow must go to the master, Anton Bruckner. It is almost inconceivable to me that any human being could have conceived of, let alone successfully executed, the creative ideas that Bruckner puts forward and then successfully resolves in his symphonies (particularly #2,4,5,7, and 9). Hans-Hubert Schonzeler said it better than anyone ever will: "Bruckner's symphonies are in reality one gigantic arch which start on Earth amidst suffering humanity, travel up to the Heavens to the very throne of grace, and return with a message of peace."

I hope this music provides you comfort, wisdom, beauty, and joy, as it has me.

This is unquestionably one of Karajan's greatest achievements. And it's hard to imagine a better Bruckner cycle than this. I've listened to Bruckner for a long time and own at least 5 recordings of each symphony. Every one of these performances ranks up there with the best (I must single out the performance of the 5th, absolutely THE best I've ever heard!). There is not a weak performance in the box. And you simply will not hear these symphonies played better than here. The Berlin Philharmonic is glorious. Karajan was often accused of producing beauty just for beauty's sake, but here it is always at the service of the music. In these grand, epic works where other conductors can get lost or lose tension in certain areas, Karajan has an incredible ability to comprehend the structure of each movement, keep it flowing, and make each transition from section to section sound effortless and natural. A great term I once heard to describe it was "architectural far-sightedness". Tempo choices throughout strike me as having an ideal balance of energy and grandeur. And the all important Adagios have plenty of time to breathe without ever dragging.

There have been some slightly negative comments about the sound quality. I thought the analog recordings (4-9) were excellent. All the sections of the orchestra were brilliantly caught. I would say some of the big climaxes in the symphonies recorded in early digital (1-3) sound a little harsh and congested, but nothing major enough to detract from the performances. Also, Karajan uses the 1889 version of the 3rd. Though I prefer the 1873 or 1877 versions, it's no big deal.

Whether you know Bruckner well, or you've never heard a note he's written, I give this set my strongest possible recommendation. It's a perfect introduction to this music, and a perfect addition to any Classical library. (And getting this 9 disc set for 40 bucks is just robbery!)

I know the title is a little mis-leading. But those that really know Bruckner know exactly what I mean.

Bruckner's symphonies have been hampered by various conductors and musicologists editing these symphonies because of their duration or sometimes just musical taste. Bruckner did not help the situation by creating different versions of the same symphony. I am not going to bore you with a long dissertation on Bruckner's symphonies (I did that in college). What is important to know is that the 2 most famous editions are the Haas and Novak versions. The Haas editions are essentially hybrid versions where he went about to bring together the original versions with the revised ones. His intent was to create a definitive version of each symphony for performance purposes. Classic case in point is the 8th which is largely the revised version with passages from the original edited back in.

The Novak editions, however, restores each symphony and its various versions into their original state; an edition I personally prefer.

What does this mean here? Karajan leans toward Haas for his recordings. Superior recordings they are, BUT (generally speaking...err...writing) they are not the symphonies as Bruckner actually wrote them. Since this was the only edition available to Karajan in his early years, it is understandable why he used them and would continue to do so.

For those who wish to hear Bruckner as he actually wrote his symphonies, one must seek out the sets my Eugen Jochum. He recorded these symphonies a number of times; the Fifth he did about half-a-dozen times (give or take). There are 2 complete versions of the numbered symphonies; a superlative account on DG with the Bavarian Radio and Berlin Philharmonic Orchestras from the late-50s to the 60s and a 2nd on EMI with the Dresden Staatkapelle. Check-out the reviews on Amazon for these recordings.

From a purely technical standpoint, none of the sets above are of his complete symphonies. Bruckner wrote 2 others; the "Study" (#00) symphony and the Symphony #0 "Die Nullte". Both are generally consider curiosities and not found in any of the major sets of complete symphonies. I recently found 3 exceptions for the "Study" Symphony: Inbal/Frankfurt RSO on Teldec; Skrowaczewski/Saarbrucken RSO on Arte Nova; and Tintner (1917-1999)/Royal Scottish NO on Naxos. There are 4 recordings of the "Die Nullte" that I am aware of; the Skrowaczewski and Tintner mentioned before plus Haitink/Concertgebouw on Philips and Barenboim/Chicago SO on DG. The Haitink and Barenboim are, also, complete sets and are generally available individually. I would opt for the single disc of the Study and Nullte and go with Jochum (or, if you prefer, Karajan) for the rest.

All current recordings of the 8th Symphony are of the revised or the Haas revised version. There are two exceptions. Inbal and Tintner made the only recordings of the original version of the 8th. That version is longer and has definite textual differences. This version is not as successful as the revised version, but it is a fascinating look at what was Bruckner's original vision.

For those that are not particular about which version to listen to, you cannot beat this set. The performances are spectacular and virtually unrivalled.

Perhaps you've noticed that this set has received an exorbitant amount of fame, with many reviewers pointing to this as the definitive set of the Bruckner symphonies. Karajan, we're told, has worked wonders with his Berliners, making for an amazing musical experience.

But I want you to know that this is a terrible set to acquire if you want your Bruckner to be a pleasantry. Perhaps you want to hear the composer interpreted in a matter-of-fact way, eschewing anything that would threaten to grip you or move you too deeply. Karajan cares nothing for the relaxation of his listeners, and he seems to pride himself in his monumental approach to the symphonies. He is taking us to grand heights, soaring above the practicality of life. For this reason, it wouldn't make good background music. It would be too disturbing and moving to listen to this music without giving it your full attention.

Maybe I've scared you away, but I hope and think not. Who ever said that the chief concern in Bruckner is pleasantness? Karajan refuses to let himself be constrained, and his vision in these symphonies is staggering. He is a magnificent master of building the music, preparing us for the impassioned climactic moments without letting go too soon. It would be easy to get lost in the vast scope of things, resulting in chaos. But with Karajan on the podium, never fear. He has a strong grip over his orchestra and everything is done with control, yet vitality is still present. This is not impersonal Bruckner; this is simply Bruckner that is speaking of things that aren't in our reach. The music transports us out of this world, into the skies, if not into heaven itself.

This is what gives this set its almost mysterious nature. Penning a review of this set is no easy task, simply because this is the kind of music that I find to be almost sacred, making it difficult to jot my thoughts down on paper. I'll simply say that it has been a rewarding experience for me to listen to this music, leaving me inspired on every page.

If you're wondering if I think Karajan's way with Bruckner is the only way, I'll be quick to say no. There are certainly other ways one could look at these symphonies, perhaps in a less bombastic way that would spend more time delving into the intricacies of the individual moments. But I don't think anyone is ever going to give us Bruckner that will make us forget Karajan, so glorious is his vision. I don't hesitate to recommend this to all music lovers alike--unless you are wary of the unearthly, of course.

The remastering of the original tapes has removed the trace of overload evident in the LP and initial CD release of the fourth symphony. Even so, the sound remains throughout the set typical of DG of the period working in the Philharmonie -not the most natural and hardly in the class of contemporary efforts from Decca, EMI or Philips.
However if you want Karajan's powerful Bruckner cylcle this is the best I've heard it so far.

I've listened to this set about twice now over the last week and I am amazed at the sheer brilliance of Karajan when it comes to Bruckner. He is the ultimate Bruckmaestro. When I first started listening to Bruckner some 10 years ago I was put off by the constant repetitions, the starts & stops, the transitions, the relatively simplistic music (felt to me like that at that time) etc. Then I discovered Karajan's rendition of Bruckner's 8th with BPO. That changed things for me. Karajan made Bruckner so much more accessible to me. I then listened to Karajan's Bruckner-7th and liked it within the 3rd hearing. From there on, my Bruckner collection started growing with Karajan's reading of Bruckner. I very deeply feel that there is no conductor who owns Bruckner's symphonies 7, 8 and 9 like Karajan does.

The 9th is a symphony I came to quite late. Why are the 5th, 7th and 8th more popular symphonies out of Bruckner's symphonic output? I feel that the 9th is the jewel of them all. It is the pinnacle of Bruckner's compositional achievement, the manifestation of years of Bruckner's acquired unique compositional technique. Karajan's rendition shines like a giant in the 9th. This symphony (left incomplete by Bruckner) even with it's three movements is like an epic. If Wagner's ring and Tolkien's Lord of the Rings are epics, this symphony with just it's three movements invokes a deep emotional response in me. This symphony under Karajan is majestic. I feel I am listening to Wagnerian operatic music. Karajan conducts the 9th with a measured tempo where you can feel this brilliant beast of a symphony's beating heart. The 9th symphony is like a massive towering gothic structure or a massive cathedral in my mind's eye. Karajan brings this massive structure to such an acoustic manifestation, it just blows my mind. I compared Karajan's 9th with Guilini's 9th, Karajan's shines through. Karajan extracts such a rumble from the orchestra, the brass blasts out, the basses groan and rumble, the tempo just right, the orchestral weight heavy and thick. The 9th by Karajan feels like a bark of a 1000 year old tree, massive giant, majestic, powerful.

With my purchase of this CD set - the 1st, 3rd and 9th were new to me. I was listening to them for the first time. Why aren't the 1st and 3rd more popular? I found the 1st to be a gem. You can see traces of Bruckner's style-to-be although faint. It is more springy, has the impression of being lighter but when you listen to it, you realize it isn't a light work at all. I believe Wagner was sent Symphony 2 and 3 and Bruckner asked Wagner to decide which he preferred to be dedicated to him. Wagner chose the 3rd. It is easy to see why; it is just a brilliant work with homage paid to Wagner's music. There is no bummer on this set. Only Karajan's Bruckner-6 did not wow-shock me. I also think Wand's Bruckner-5 is better than Karajan's rendition. That being said this is a magnificent set to own. If you are Bruckner fan, just go for this one. You need this set in your Bruckner CD shelf. You cannot do without this. This is the set every Bruckner cycle should be/will be/was being/is being judged against.

PS: I love Karajan's Bruckner but recently heard Wand's Bruckner - Symphony 5. I must say Wand is a wonderful Bruckner interpreter. Wand conducts Bruckner's score literally, with no embellishments & with clean straight lines. I am torn between Wand and Karajan. Who is my ultimate Bruckner conductor? I need to listen to more Wand. Is there only one ultimate way to play Bruckner or are there mulitple pathways to Bruckner Bliss?

Herbert von Karajan conducted Bruckner throughout his long career. Many versions of the later symphonies are available; I even have an amazing 1944 Eighth (minus the first movement) with the Prussian State Orchestra with the last movement in glorious stereo!(Koch label)

This is Karajan's only taping of the complete cycle and it is generally wonderful. This conductor had the gift of maintaining an iron grip on Bruckner's tempi and unerringly building up Bruckner's arching climaxes. Of the nine, it is No 5 and 8 that are the most magisterial. Numbers 4, 7 and 9 are not far behind. These 5 works are well recorded with warm, clear and slightly resonant sound. The first 3 symphonies and No. 6 have dryish sound but are also well played and interpreted.

At the asking price these estimable performances are well worth acquiring. It is worth noting that for a moderately greater outlay you can get the same renditions as part of the massive Karajan symphony edition. That is what I would do.

This is surely one of the very best Bruckner cycles. I like the best of the ones I have heard. At the prices not to be missed.
The sound is good late 70s sound plus a few digital recordings.

If i have to recommend just one Bruckner cycle, this would be my choice.
Those are safe and compelling performances that could fit for every taste.
As highlights i can point to great 1st, 4th, 5th, 8th and 9th performances,
however i marginally would prefer his 4th and 8th for EMI and his legendary
9th from 1.966 also in DG. Anyway, all symphonies in this cycle are masterly performed. An essential.

I cannot agree with the previous reviewer's assessment that these recordings are in "wondrously spatial, clear" sound. Karajan's Bruckner cycle is badly in need of remastering. The original digital transfer remains the only one available, and it's badly outdated. It suffers from ovoerload in loud passages and digital shrillness in the uppper strings.

I have done quite a few A-B comparisons to other Karajan Bruckner recordings, and all have better sonics except the 1966 Sym. 9 on DG Galleria. The EMI Fourth and Seventh have considerably better sound than the versions in this box set, thanks to extensive remastering. The very late Seventh and Eighth from Vienna are also miles better. An early Eighth on EMI is worse, suffering from boxy early stereo. A mono Eighth from Vienna, included in an expesnive compilation from Andante, is good of its kind but inferior to all the stereo versions of the Eighth that came later.