I love it, always have. Especially the first 2 movements. However, it's a kind of Cinderella work, and the first surge of consistent 'greatness' begins with the 3rd. Remember, one man's meat, another's poison. For example, I actively dislike Mahler's 8, and loathe everything about Gerontius. Regards.
Bruckner 2 *is* a great symphony. And in its superior first version of 1872, revolutionary in its Brucknerian vision of the legacy of Beethoven 9.
Great stuff, Ralph Moore. I've listened to most of your recommendations and would only quibble with your choice of Karajan as THE MAN for 1 to 9. To my ears, Karajam's 2 and 6 are simply not even close to great performances, though the others are fine and sometimes great - 8 and 9. My choice for 1 to 9 would be the Dresden Jochum.
I'm also passionate about Celibidache's Munich 4 and 6 - nobody does them better, to my ears, especially the Coda of 4.
I love the Schaller boxed set and the Skrowaceswski on Oehms. And you're so right about Giulini's Second - wonderful stuff, he almost turns it into a great Symphony. Best regards, Dieter.
Dear Ralph - thank you for posting your well-considered thoughts on your personal recommendations for Bruckner recordings. I have only one criticism, and that is referring to the Karajan Bruckner Symphony box as "complete" - it is not. It contains nine of Bruckner's eleven symphonies and by definition is not complete. There are a number of integral recordings of all eleven symphonies, first and foremost in my opinion, that of Skrowaczewski on Oehms. Or Simone Young, also on Oehms. Or Gerd Schaller on Profil. Or Markus Bosch on Coviello. All of those contain all eleven symphonies and therefore justify the description "complete." As will be the emerging cycles by Thielemann and Poschner.
A better descriptor of Karajan is "The Nine Numbered Symphonies". Same with Jochum, for that matter.
I don't want to seem a nit-picker, but I think it is important to reinforce the emerging awareness, especially with more recent conductors, that Bruckner wrote 11, not 9 symphonies!
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