Wand does it again
Prescott Cunningham Moore | 09/05/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"No one handles Bruckner like Gunter Wand. He was the last of the generation of Bruckner interpreters. And right before his death he left us his final interpretations of the late famous Bruckner Symphonies. Wand's handling of Bruckner's 7th Symphony is something very special. As with all his Bruckner interpretations, Wand handles the master quite effectively with broad tempos, large sonics, and strict control. The Berlin Philharmonic, as always, responds with characteristic precision. But here, in these live performances, they offer something more. Their sound is so balanced, so pure, so beautiful that its difficult to listen to Bruckner any other way. From the inspired opening of the Allegro to the mighty finale, Wand is on fire here. This is the Bruckner 7 to own!"