Bruckner Symphony no. 8 2nd Mov. 1/2 Karajan VPO 1979

[musodavid]

Bruckner is a composer that frustrates me. I am just working my way through all the symphonies to try and get to grips with him. Passages of shear brilliance followed by passages that just seem to meander with no real purpose. Fabulous music like the 4th, 7th and this 8th and others that just seem to be a series of mighty episodes linked with string. HELP.....

[shsnj]

@musodavid That is exactly the way I feel. Some of his music is ethereal, heavenly -- as beautiful as anything I've ever heard. But then so much of it leaves me with the question, "Where on earth is this going? Anywhere at all?"

[dragmio]

Dare I say this is the best scherzo ever? It might very well be.

[clasicoobservador]

Glorious! that's the word I was looking for...

[bt10ant]

I like the Giulini version with the VPO - Karajan is great here, though

[greycatcruzer]

Great peformance, almost as good as George Szell`s definitive recording with the Cleveland Orchestra!

[darkblueangel1956]

Come nelle altre sinfonie, Bruckner fa dello Scherzo, in tempo ternario, un mantra in musica. Questo mostra la forte impronta mistica del compositore di Linz. Karajan fa sfoggio di un timbro sontuoso negli archi, come un enorme velo di seta. Interpretazione matura e intensamente vissuta, la definirei "anziana" ! Eugene Jochum la esegue più snella e leggera, agile, forse più gradevole !

[jonathanaconway]

Karajan's orchestra outshines even Celibidache's on this one.

[jonathanaconway]

No emotion more characterizes this piece than that of exultation.

[borivilli]

This is the best movement Bruckner ever composed.

[amm1t5]

Try Boulez with thw WPO on DG. Great too.

[Tomtulpe201107]

8:41..... oops.... fail!

[hillardj]

The principle clarinet player made a boo-boo in 8:40. This shows me, a mere music student, that even the pros makes mistakes.

[OliverKahnNr1]

Sounded more like an oboe to me. I too have studied clarinet for eight years now. Although I focus more on low brass for this symphony, because they add sufficient weight to the dramatic points, especially the finale, needless to say!

[aliosmanmahmut]

I think its an oboe though..

[PUCCINIMUSICK]

@hillardj It is true but believe me I have heard the best orchestras in the world making the most incredible mistakes. But it happens because music is human. Therefore a mistake is allowed and sometimes expected...

[snakeweirdo]

@PUCCINIMUSICK And sometimes even worthwhile.

[orrinvanzelf]

Massawax is a motherfucker. Apparently.

[PUCCINIMUSICK]

@orrinvanzelf Not apparently. One who can deliver such a commentary can be nothing but an idiot. Of course, he does not know either music or Bruckner's Music specifically...

[massawax]

Herr "legato" Karajan is in full shape, but his reading is not suitable to a scherzo. Sound is beautiful, but there is no rythm, no urgency, no excitement.

[Nachtmarchen]

Too slow, too soft - this is a Scherzo, adance movement after all.

[homeros8000]

One of the greatest works in history. Karajan here is in top form.

[Klangzauberer]

Too slow for my taste.

[AlphaDelta3]

why haven't more people enjoyed this amazing piece?

[Numboss]

Good question.

[11000001100000]

Don't ask that. Just thank God that YOU are enjoying it! :-)