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07-03-2014 This is I believe, the third go around on disks for Wand and the Bruckner 8th Symphony. Previous cycles in Koln and Hamburg led up to this recording with the Great Berlin Philharmonic, in January 2001. The old ma was 89 years young when he made this Haas version that lasts for just over 87 minutes, a bit longer than most, but certainly not sluggish. The Haas edition does add a tad more time/music to the score and Wand's tempi are his usually relaxed and stately. The disk #2 in this twin pack from RCA, containing the Adagio and Finale, runs for almost 54 minutes alone, this helping to explain the lengthy work.
Completed in 1887, on the heels of his smash hit 7th Symphony, the composer sent the original copy to Herman Levi of the Vienna Phil, who politely returned it with regrets that he found it too much and incomprehensible and suggested some editing of the mammoth score. Bruckner did so and wound up with the 1890 version, published by Nowak in 1955, however, Robert Haas issued his version in 1935, in which he restore some of the cuts made by the composer, and that is the version we hear in this CD. I do believe all of Wand's previous 8th have been by Haas, but I'm not 100% sure. It is, by far, my favorite edition of this grand work.
So, what does it sound like? Well, it is, in short, 87 minutes of Heavenly music, played as eloquently as the BPO has ever played anything in their long and illustrious history. It stands as a monument to both the Orchestra, the composer and certainly, to Gunther Wand. I have a couple of DVD's with the "grand old man" leading his NDR Hamburg band in the 9th and the 8th Symphonies and the energy and precision of his direction is remarkable to both see and hear. Just to be a conductor at his great age is enough, but to consistantly take on Bruckner, is quite another thing. And, he doesn't have a stool to retreat to if he should tire, no, he stands the whole time! WOW!! I hope and pray I have half his stamina at that age, IF I should even reach that age! Truly, one of the Century's greatest maestros, his legacy of recording, while small by comparison to the field, is a noble one, and so many of the works are definitive to be certain.
The key to this Symphony is it's gorgeous Adagio, and here he excells as always. I say that no one plays this rapturous music like Wand, even better than Tennstedt and Giulini, both of whom used the Nowak editions in their releases for EMI and DGG, respectively. Wand takes 27:36 to allow this beautiful music to unfold, in slow motion, like a time-lapse set of images of a flower opening to the morning sun. It is grand and heartfelt music that we hear and capable of transporting one to yet another realm and level. Is it Heavenly? Is it religious? To me, personally, it is, although these are subjective judgements of mine and may not apply in the least to anyone else. I believe Wand skirted this issue and played down the spiritual side of this music, as I expected he would, in an interview on, I think, You Tube he spoke more of this being simply pure music, and little else. I disagree, but , of course, that is my right as a listener, but zi do think most listeners would agree more with my view than with the maestro's. How about you? Is it just music or is there a "message" within the notes?
To get a sense of the splendid control of the orchestra and their virtuosic performance, sample two sections in this Adagio. The first is the piano level of the main theme's beginning from 14;32 to 14:59 and then immediately following the sharp, intrusive orchestral tutti from 15:00 to 15:21. There is more Haas from the 18:17 mark to about 18:59 or so, and it only seeks to embellish an already glorious movement. But, I do believe Bruckner pulled out all the stops when he wrote this Symphony, perhaps believing it was to be his last major work, but , of course, these was still the 9th yet to come, upon which he labored up to the day he died.
The rousing finale has some small Haas restorations but not many and it still is a rollicking fast and triumphant conclusion to this the greatest of all his Symphonies. If we had a completed 9th, then maybe it would get top honors, but it 's finale exists in fragmentary form only and unless more material is somehow discovered, it will remain an unfinished Symphony. So, in conclusion, overall this is an outstanding performance and truly a 5 star high recommendation. it should be part of everyone's library whether or not you are a big Bruckner fan or not. It is a definitive reading of one of music greatest Symphonies, and in my personal top ten listing. It resides up there with the "Unfinished", with the Pathetique, the Eroica snd the Mahler 8th Symphony. Please, do yourselves a favor and add it to your library, my friends, and you won't regret it a bit. Here's wishing you years of happy listening and a sincere God bless you, to all, Tony. AMDG
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