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It's amazing what hi-rez (DTS HD Master Audio in this case) can do for this music. Of course, the recording is multi-miked to the hilt (strange how well you can hear the flutes near the very end!), but aside from that, the sound quality is outstanding. As with so many hi-rez recordings these days, the winds have a tonal body that I've rarely encountered. The string tone is alive, no matter what the dynamic level. And speaking of the dynamic level, it's huge - with great micro-dynamics too. (Apparently, it's TOO wide for one of the posters on Amazon!) I haven't compared this performance with my previous touchstone hi-rez recording of this work (the Blomsted/LGO SACD), but I don't plan on getting rid of either of these in the foreseeable future. As for interpretation, Abbado's ear for balance really pays dividends in the textural transparency element - especially in that contrapuntal finale, where Bruckner takes the counterpoint in the finale of Mozart's Jupiter Symphony "to the next level", so to speak.
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I'm always nervous about recommending recordings. The response "what were you thinking? It was awful in so many ways" is not one I like to hear.
I just ordered the Welser-Most (or as some have dubbed him "worse than most") Bruckner 8th. I'm hoping it is as good as the hype behind it.
I was in the audience in Cleveland when the Bruckner 8 was recorded; they actually gave away free tickets for every seat. It was a fine performance of the original 1887 version of the work, with added sections (compared to the usual versions), such as loud brass at the end of the first movement. I thought the additions weakened the piece. Just be aware that you aren't getting what you might expect if you know the 1890 Nowak edition or the Haas or the Schalk version.
Here's a list of all the recordings of the Bruckner 8th, organized by performing edition:
http://www.abruckner.com/discography/symphony8incminor/
One of the better nicknames in the business....!Mind, when Nagano fired part of the string section in the Halle (not his most successful tenure), one of them turned round to him and said "How exactly do you spell your first name, Mr Nagano......?"
Edits: 09/12/12 09/12/12
I'm with you: that original 1887 version is pretty inferior overall.
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