I do have to concede that the Ballot is a grievous omission on my part, although I think I too will be only able to hear it on standard stereo. I have a sneaking feeling that John (Proffitt) is attempting to persuade the entire MWI readership to all update their equipment so that they can too play multichannel recordings and whilst his arguments are indeed lucid and persuasive, they (alas) cut little ice with the poor long suffering Mrs Denham !
When I first read your post, I did think "ah yes, Blomstedt and Kubelik", although I didn't know there were two recordings by the latter - do you rate them at all ? I also didn't know about the Konwitschny one either.
You may be interested in reading John Quinn's and Patrick Waller's excellent summary of the Bruckner's symphonies and their recordings on MWI (see: http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2005/Feb05/Bruckner_symphonies_PWJQ.htm ). Dark rumours swirl along the corridors of power at Musicweb International HQ that John and Patrick may be persuaded to update their article. If they do, I hope that consideration will be given for Konwitschny's recording of the Second Symphony. I rate this live performance very highly - not for the sound, of course, although it is extremely good for a radio broadcast from 1952 with the coughers in the audience captured with all the sonic excellence that would make even John Proffitt throw out his multichannel equipment in disgust ! Nor should I really rate the performance, which clearly interprets the work with all the majesty befitting one of the later symphonies - after all, other conductors have tried this unsuccessfully with this early work. And yet here, due to some podium black magic wizardry, it is all quite wonderful. So I am very grateful to you for bringing my attention to the same team's recording of the Eighth - I will have to track it down !
Best regards
lee
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