Search - Anton Bruckner, Günter Wand, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra :: Bruckner: Symphony No. 9

Much Better Than 5 Stars!

King Lemuel | Puyallup, WA | 08/24/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Some classical collectors are in search of the Holy Grail. For Bruckner's 9th they will have a wagon full collection of recordings. As they listen to each, they are searching for the penultimate recording. They are on a quest to find the Bruckner 9th Holy Grail.



I am not on such a quest. First of all, if I buy 4 Bruckner 9ths, I am hoping they are all winners, if not; I have wasted my time and money. I am also hoping for 4 good to great recordings, each with a different take on the 9th so that they are distinguishable. I do not want 4 Big Macs! If they all taste the same, I have wasted my time and money.



I do not believe there is a Holy Grail Bruckner 9th. This is a vain quest if ever there was one. There has got to be well over a dozen GREAT recordings of Bruckner's 9th. This recording by Wand and the BPO is one of those GREAT Bruckner 9th recordings.



If you are looking for unsurpassed playing by one of the world's greatest orchestras, the BPO fits this bill. If you want one of the best ever DDD recordings of the 9th, this recording fits the bill. If you want a heart felt interpretation by one of the greatest Bruckner interpreters, Gunter Wand is your man.



This recording of the 9th may not be the best ever, but it certainly is one of my favorites. I especially like the Scherzo and the Adagio. The Adagio is hauntingly intense.



One of the nigglies I hate the most is the classical sound drop off niggly. I find many Bruckner symphony recordings very irritating because, as I listen especially in the Adagio and slower movements, the sound will drop so much that I cannot hear the music and wonder if something is wrong with either the recording or with my equipment. Then, suddenly, the music will blast and rattle the dishes in the cupboard. The Gunter Wand DVDs, for the most part, and this Bruckner 9th recording do not have this problem! They maintain the scale between the low and high line volume levels while keeping the low levels high enough to be EASILY heard.

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Gunter Wand's Bruckner is the one to own.

Prescott Cunningham Moore | 01/14/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was initially wowed by Wand's amazing handling of Bruckner's great 8th Symphony and I have, since then, bought all the Gunter Wand/Berlin Philharmonic recordings. They are all equally impressive.



Wand's handling of the ninth is no less inspired. His tempos are firm, yet expressively flexible. The opening movement begins eerily, almost mundanely, but soon erupts in a forceful passion. Wand's amazing ability to build and subsequently release tension is artfully showcased in this work. Climaxes sound unearthly; pianos, like whispers. The frightening and tonally complex Scherzo is equally exciting. Foreshadowing the tonality of Schoenburg and the rhythms of Stravinsky, the Scherzo's demonic qualities are brought out under Wand's hand. However, the real highlight of the disc is the monumental Adagio. Its beauty is unmatched in the repertoire, building powerfully, but fading, like a dream, into nothingness. It is, in a way, a fitting way for Bruckner to leave this earth. Wand's interpretation is equally fitting for this movement. He allows the music to unfold naturally and majestically while still maintaining his precise control. Never has the Philharmonic sounded so alive - even under Karajan, the strings have never sounded so rich, so pure, so beautiful. This is the only recording of the ninth that truly is a fitting testament to Bruckner."

Wand does it again

J. Borup | 04/14/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Wand is one of the most well-known Brucknerian conductors and, by any standard, deserves this title. This rendition of the ninth doesn't disappoint at all. His rendition of the first movement is excellent, not shrinking away from the dissonances, causing the orchestra to perform too loud, or introducing strident tones into the ensemble, like Jochum can be guilty of. Although the first movement isn't as moving as Tintner's performance with the Royal National Scottish Orchestra, it is still excellent, as previously mentioned. The second movement, like the first, is excellent but probably not the greatest recording out there.



This brings us to the finale... Wand's rendition is superior, one more moving, more powerful than any other recording I have ever heard. This is the gem of this cd. Amazingly, Wand interprets every single part of this movement masterfully, the initial blissful beauty, the introduction of the underlying discontent, the sublimity of the monumental climax, and the dimenuendo to nothingness are amazing. This recording is well worth the money, and is a lot cheaper than most other of Wand's recordings. My advice to you, save up and buy this cd a.s.a.p. Yes, my friend, that means now. Go forth! Collect your earnings, don't buy that new dishwasher or that chemestry set, you don't need it. You need this."