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Posted by John Quinn on January 23, 2007, 7:54 pm, in reply to "My little Bruckner collection" Patrick has pointed you towards our joint survey of Bruckner recordings. As we make clear, that's only our view of the Bruckner recordings that we've heard between us - there are a lot more out there! You probably wouldn't want two complete cycles by the same conductor but DG have now made available Jochum's first cycle, recorded with the BPO and the Bavarian RSO between, I think, 1958 and 1967. It's on 9 discs. I bought it a little while ago and I haven't so far had time to listen to it all. What I have sampled suggests to me that it might have the magic and rhetoric that you find his Dresden set lacks - and I don't think you're alone there. The playing and sound in those performances I've heard is very good and if you sample, say, the last 3 or 4 minutes of the Fourth you'll recognise a fine Bruckner conductor at work. I notice that the set's on Amazon.com for US$72 + shipping but Universal seem to be forever doing promotions these days so if you shop around you might well be able to pick it up more cheaply. Before leaving Jochum, his DG recordings of the Masses (in one 2CD set) and the motets etc (single disc) are very fine indeed. They're currently on offer at reduced prices from www.europadisc.co.uk at a very good price, again as part of a Universal promotion so I guess other retailers may have similar deals right now. The same retailer has the DG Karajan cycle currently at a reduced price (£50). They also have all the Philips twofers by Haitink on special offer and as you'll see from our survey I think Haitink's a pretty reliable guide to Bruckner. In terms of single disc recommendations then I'd particularly advocate Bohm in Number 4 (with the VPO on Decca). I think that's currently in a 2 disc set coupled with his Third, which I've not heard. For the Sixth - a sadly underrated work, I feel- then Klemperer on EMI is still my benchmark. Wand's BPO recordings for BMG/RCA, made 'live' in his last years are very good, albeit at full price. Nos. 4 & 7 are excellent and No. 8 is just about the finest recording of that work I've heard. Do also try to hear some BBC Legends issues. Giulini in either No 7 or 8 is very worthwhile. Even more important is Horenstein in No 5 or a 2 disc set that couples No.s 8 & 9. Happy listening.
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