Search - Bruckner, Wakasugi :: Symphony 2

A very poised and sympathetic performance

Mike Willis | Trafalgar, Victoria Australia | 10/21/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is one of the real gems of the somewhat variable - but never uninteresting - Arte Nova catalogue. The conductor leads an admirably sensible and well-paced account, which benefits from fine and well coordinated playing, and an exceptionally warm and well-balanced recording. Less monumental than Karajan, but more flowing and natural than Rahbari (for example - his version is on another budget label, Koch Discover classics), this is a version which grows on you over time; it is certainly a version to which I have returned on many occasions. It is closely rivalled by the late Georg Tintner's somewhat more assertive performance, but since that is also on a budget label (Naxos), interested Brucknerians could always consider buying both versions. Then they would have the best of all possible worlds! This is not a bad option at all, since this wonderful symphony is actually not recorded as much as the later symphonies, yet it is a real masterpiece with a superb first movement (with special use of syncopation), a true Brucknerian second and slow movement, and two exciting other movements. This Japanese conductor has recorded other Bruckner including the 9th symphony, but although that version, also on Arte Nova, demonstrates the same technical excellence, warmth and understanding, it seems small in scale compared to the likes of Furtwangler, Walter and Karajan. No the trick here is to but this excellent Bruckner 2 and enjoy what is on offer. Meanwhile, Arte Nova continue to complete their Bruckner cycle, although not under this conductor."