Bruckner: Symphony No. 4 in E Flat Major - Romantic ~ Karajan

Anton Bruckner (Composer), Herbert von Karajan (Conductor), Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
• Conductor: Herbert von Karajan
• Composer: Anton Bruckner
• Audio CD (July 13, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: EMI Classics
• ASIN: B000239B8M
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #219,566 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gives Bohm's celebrated Decca recording a run for its money, August 12, 2004

By 

Kenji Fujishima (East Brunswick, NJ USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bruckner: Symphony No. 4 in E Flat Major - Romantic ~ Karajan (Audio CD)

This is one of the best, most glorious-sounding recordings of Bruckner's popular "Romantic" Symphony (his Fourth) that I've heard yet. My previous prime recommendation for a sole recording of this piece was the 1973 Decca recording with Karl Bohm leading the Vienna Philharmonic. It is not a performance heavy with attention-grabbing individual features: it is simply a clearly-projected, magnificently played, and above all human performance in which Bohm's steady directorial hand seems hardly in evidence (which is a definite virtue in this case). It's a reading that eventually grows on you, like it did with me.

Recently, though, I decided on a whim to purchase this superbudget remastering of Herbert von Karajan's 1970 EMI recording of Bruckner's Fourth. Knowing at least a little bit about Karajan's style, I expected this performance to at least sound good and have a considerable measure of structural shrewdness. What I didn't expect, though, was to be so blown away by this recording as to now consider it my favorite among all other performances of this piece that I've heard---and that includes Bohm's.

I won't spend too much space going into detailed comparisons of the two performances. I will simply say that at certain passages where Bohm's reading seems relatively objective (yet no less grand), Karajan's sounds loftier, even transcendant. The very broad first movement of this disc is something to behold: I've never heard the whole thing performed so beautifully as it is here by the Berlin Philharmonic. (The modulating brass chorale at the development's climax is even grander-sounding than in Bohm's recording.) I definitely like the tempo for the second movement, closer than I've personally heard it to Bruckner's intended "Andante, quasi allegretto"---fairly quick without it feeling rushed at all. The third movement is also wonderfully energetic. As for the fourth movement...well, I've never found it one of Bruckner's more successful symphonic consummations---it's certainly no match for, say, the mighty finales of his Fifth and Eighth Symphonies---but Karajan manages to make a good deal out of it.

But that is hardly enough to undermine what is now my personal favorite performance of Bruckner's "Romantic" Symphony. The Berlin Philharmonic play gloriously throughout (gotta love that timpani!), and the recorded sound is so good you'd think it was a digital recording instead of merely a digital remastering from analogue. Anyone who chances upon this very cheap disc will hardly be disappointed. Highly recommended.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Karajan vs Karajan - Two superb recordings, November 17, 2006

By 

spydr - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bruckner: Symphony No. 4 in E Flat Major - Romantic ~ Karajan (Audio CD)

I own both the EMI and DG recordings of Karajan's Bruckner 4 with the Berlin Phil and to me they are both superb. Karajan's interpretation is flawless and he manages to conjure up such a rich variety of textures and colours that they can surely not be surpassed. The Berlin Phil of the 70's and early 80's was at its height under Karajan and the quality of its sound (especially evident in the richness of the strings) as well as the virtually perfect beginnings and endings of each passage in these two recordings can surely not be surpassed. Karajan really gives meaning to the 'romatic' in this symphony's name. I would say these are the definitive recordings of this work.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exceptional., March 18, 2005

By 

Wayne A. (Belfast, Northern Ireland) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Bruckner: Symphony No. 4 in E Flat Major - Romantic ~ Karajan (Audio CD)

I listen to plenty of Bruckner performed by plenty of conductors and orchestras. I always try to maintain an open mind when encountering new (to me) performances. Frankly, this is one of the most radiant and magnificently played Bruckner Fourths I've ever encountered--one of those interpretations that almost leaves one convinced this is exactly the way the composer intended the music to sound.

Karajan seems to be one of those high-profile conductors about whom aficionados enjoy having strong opinions. Nothing attracts derision like success and during his lifetime he was an amazingly successful conductor.

For the classical newcomer my somewhat impartial assessment may be helpful: Herbert von Karajan was a genius and certainly a perfectionist. He tended to get spectacular sound and performances from his orchestras. Now some find his stuff just a bit too "perfect" and consequently emotionally distant--hence "bandmaster." Sometimes I think this assessment by some folks is influenced by personal feelings about the conductor's wartime associations with the Nazi party. Sometimes people just act oddly when confronted by perfection. Personally, I've liked most of the von Karajan recordings I've heard, a number are favorites or first choices, but I also love the work of many other conductors and for different reasons. When you start sampling different interpretations you realize there're many acceptable and enjoyable ways to play the same music.

Case in point. Karajan's Mahler is gorgeous and majestic while simultaneously not exactly rustic and folksy. His approach brings out an astonishing aspect to the music, how well-written it is. It may not be the best Mahler for some but it's still a great listening experience for others--myself included. There's nothing out there quite like it. I have other interpretations when I want the folksy side played up better.