18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Justly acclaimed recording of Bruckner's mighty Eighth, July 14, 2004
This review is from: Bruckner: Symphonie No 8 (Audio CD)
Having heard Giulini's fantastic DG recording of Bruckner's Ninth Symphony, I looked forward to hearing his similarly majestic way with what is arguably Bruckner's greatest finished symphony, the mighty Eighth.
Other than Bruckner's Fifth, his Eighth is perhaps his most completely successful symphonic utterance. If the Adagio is not necessarily his best slow movement, it certainly comes very close (that powerful Adagio of his Ninth is pretty hard to beat). But there can be no doubt that, for his Eighth Symphony, Bruckner never wrote a greater Finale---episodic, maybe, but still one of his most thrilling, with a towering coda that counts as one of Bruckner's mightiest symphonic moments.
In short, I find Bruckner's Eighth to be one of the great works of the symphonic literature, and Carlo Maria Giulini and the Vienna Philharmonic on this two-disc recording come near doing it full justice. It is a performance of truly epic proportions, with the VPO playing with their usual technical brilliance and creating some grand and glorious sounds, particularly the brass. Despite the slow tempos of the first two movements, they never drag (the Scherzo always feels like a true scherzo in its outer sections); the Adagio is second to none, marvelously played and conducted, with Giulini once again choosing a very slow tempo but sustaining it near-miraculously (it truly sounds as spiritual as Bruckner must have intended); and the Finale is a truly grand summation of all that has come before, with a coda that is truly majestic in this performance.
Overall, I think this oft-acclaimed Giulini Eighth is worth the hype as one of the great recorded accounts of this symphony. For those, though, who only want to have one recording of this work for their shelves---well, that is quite a decision to make. For me, it comes down to this Giulini recording and Herbert von Karajan's equally powerful DG recording with the same orchestra released about five years later. I dunno...both have their really good points, making choice difficult. I like Giulini's first and second movements slightly better than Karajan's, who is, I think, a little too heavy-handed in both movements. (Giulini's reading of the Scherzo, for instance, seems much more like an actual scherzo than Karajan's does.) Both have equally moving readings of the Adagio, Karajan's just as moving as Giulini's even with a quicker tempo. It is with the Finale, though, that I rather prefer Karajan's reading over Giulini's---the former conductor effortlessly binds the whole big structure together into a fiery symphonic whole, whereas Giulini sometimes comes off as slightly more disjointed and episodic by comparison.
So, for those who are looking only for one version of this symphony to own, it's a tough call between Giulini and Karajan. Ideally, though, you should own both: both conductors may use different editions of the score (I will not get into discussion about the whole argument about various extant editions regarding this symphony), but both will convince you of this music's greatness. Any recording of this mighty piece that accomplishes that must be counted as a success, and Giulini's performance, like Karajan's, is surely that. Recommended.
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One Of The Great Recordings Of Bruckner's 8th Symphony, December 19, 2001
This review is from: Bruckner: Symphonie No 8 (Audio CD)
This is undoubtedly one of the finest recordings of Bruckner's 8th Symphony. Giulini leads the Vienna Philharmonic in one of the most vibrant, dynamic performances of this symphony that I've heard. He skillfully uses broad tempi to lead the orchestra into thunderous climaxes noted for the brass section's intense, dramatic playing. Giulini seems sure of himself and where he wants to lead the orchestra through the dense textures of Bruckner's score. The sound quality is extremely vivid and warm, as well as well balanced. Those looking for a splendid interpretation of Bruckner's 8th Symphony won't be disappointed with this recording.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Magnificent, June 4, 2009
This review is from: Bruckner: Symphonie No 8 (Audio CD)
This is, quite simply, one of the greatest Bruckner recordings ever made. Never has the architectural grandeur of this seminal work been so marvelously realized; this is a performance that fully shapes and sculptures the long lines, one in which every single turn gives meaning to the overall narrative and the whole is created with immense sweep and magnificence, giving a feeling of sunlight dawning gradually on the whole grand edifice just as much as the feeling of a long journey of tribulation and enlightenment towards its inevitable culmination. Giulini's reliance on the Nowak edition yields, in fact, even more rewards than Karajan's use of the Haas one (even though the two performances, for this reason, are not in direct competition); it is a spacious view, but never ever is it outstaying its welcome, and never does the intensity flag. And the playing of the Vienna Philharmonic responds to the visionary view with a gorgeously rich sound, luminous and smolderingly powerful, even fervent, utterly without blemishes. The recording is bright, but warm and spacious, revealing both the various subtle details (bassoons in the first movement, harp in the second - details not audible on most other recordings) while at the same time capturing the glowing power and momentum of the performance. One of the truly great performances of the last century, this one, and an obligatory acquisition.
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