Bruckner: 9 Symphonien

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Eugen Jochum was the ultimate Bruckner conductor. He recorded the complete symphonies twice, once on DG and once for EMI (with the Staatskapelle Dresden). Both sets are thoroughly recommended, but this first one has always had a special place in the hearts of collectors, if only for nostalgic reasons. It was the first complete cycle, and although it was later overshadowed by Herbert von Karajan's highly publicized recordings for the same label, it's interesting to note that Jochum is still in print (for now), while Karajan is not. Jochum brought to Bruckner's music a human warmth and lyricism that only served to highlight the music's spiritual qualities. He preferred flexible speeds that never dragged, and the result is a uniquely complete and exciting view of the composer: in short, a musical testament. --David Hurwitz

Tracks:

Symphony No. 1 in C minor: Allegro
Symphony No. 1 in C minor: Adagio
Symphony No. 1 in C minor: Scherzo. Schnell
Symphony No. 1 in C minor: Finale. Bewegt, feurig

Tracks:

Symphony No. 2 In C Minor: Moderato
Symphony No. 2 In C Minor: Andante
Symphony No. 2 In C Minor: Scherzo. Massig schnell
Symphony No. 2 In C Minor: Finale. Mehr schnell

Tracks:

Symphony No. 3 In D Minor: Mehr langsam, Misterioso
Symphony No. 3 In D Minor: Adagio, bewegt, quasi, Andante
Symphony No. 3 In D Minor: Ziemlich schnell
Symphony No. 3 In D Minor: Allegro

Tracks:

Symphony No. 4 in E flat major 'Romantic': Bewegt, nicht zu schnell
Symphony No. 4 in E flat major 'Romantic': Andante quasi Allegretto
Symphony No. 4 in E flat major 'Romantic': Scherzo. Bewegt
Symphony No. 4 in E flat major 'Romantic': Finale. Bewegt, doch nicht zu schnell

Tracks:

Symphony No. 5 In B Flat Major: Introduction. Adagio - Allegro
Symphony No. 5 In B Flat Major: Adagio. Sehr langsam
Symphony No. 5 In B Flat Major: Scherzo. Molto vivace (Schnell)
Symphony No. 5 In B Flat Major: Finale. Adagio - Allegro moderato

Tracks:

Symphony No. 6 In A Major: Maestoso
Symphony No. 6 In A Major: Adagio. Sehr feierlich
Symphony No. 6 In A Major: Scherzo. Nicht schnell
Symphony No. 6 In A Major: Finale. Bewegt, doch nicht zu schnell

Tracks:

Symphony No. 8 In C Minor: Allegro moderato
Symphony No. 8 In C Minor: Scherzo. Allegro moderato
Symphony No. 8 In C Minor: Adagio. Feierlich langsam; doch nicht schleppend
Symphony No. 8 In C Minor: Finale. Feierlich, nicht schnell

Tracks:

Symphony No. 7 In E Major: Allegro moderato
Symphony No. 7 In E Major: Scherzo. Allegro moderato
Symphony No. 7 In E Major: Scherzo. Sehr schnell
Symphony No. 7 In E Major: Finale. Bewegt, doch nicht schnell

Tracks:

Symphony No.9 In D Minor: Feierlich, misterioso - Anton Bruckner
Symphony No.9 In D Minor: Scherzo. Bewegt, lebhaft - Anton Bruckner
Symphony No.9 In D Minor: Adagio. Langsam, feierlich - Anton Bruckner

Amazon.com

Eugen Jochum was the ultimate Bruckner conductor. He recorded the complete symphonies twice, once on DG and once for EMI (with the Staatskapelle Dresden). Both sets are thoroughly recommended, but this first one has always had a special place in the hearts of collectors, if only for nostalgic reasons. It was the first complete cycle, and although it was later overshadowed by Herbert von Karajan's highly publicized recordings for the same label, it's interesting to note that Jochum is still in print (for now), while Karajan is not. Jochum brought to Bruckner's music a human warmth and lyricism that only served to highlight the music's spiritual qualities. He preferred flexible speeds that never dragged, and the result is a uniquely complete and exciting view of the composer: in short, a musical testament. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

5 Stars for Interpretation.......2005-12-18

You've all covered the points pretty well; but don't any of you notice the disturbing phasing in-and-out of stereo in the 5th, JUST as the final apotheosis gets underway? Now which of you has bought the latest re-packaging of this, and can you tell me if this blotchy sound was corrected? (It may be the unfortunate state of the master-tape; but you'd think with all the miracles with computers these days, they could fix this...)

The best Bruckner cycle ever recorded.......2005-07-26

I know some think the Karajan's boxed set is better than Jochum, but I respectfully disagree with that view. Jochum has a spirituality that he brings to his readings of the Bruckner symphonies, that really impresses me. His reading of the 4th is the best by a small margin over a few others. I would really like to talk about the superb version of the 7th. The great adagio is simply masterly in the hands of Jochum. I have been brought to tears quite a few times by listening to this version. At almost 25 minutes (a lot of versions clock in at about 21 minutes)it's not too long in the least, but paced just right. This set doesn't have the best 9th, but it's right up there with the best. I do agree with one of your previous reviewers, that the Haas version would have been a better choice for the 8th symphony, but he does a pretty bang up job using the Nowak version if you ask me. If you would like to try a definitive version of the Haas edition of the 8th symphony, try the VPO conducted by Herbert Von Karajan from the late 80's on the DG label. Some guides (like the Penguin guide) prefer the Karajan boxed set over the Jochum, but what do they know anyway. I also have the Dresden State boxed set conducted by Jochum, which does have a more full-bodied sound quality, but his insights in this earlier DG set are quite special.
DG has just re-released and repackaged this into a much thinner box with each disc in a sleeve, but I like my discs in the regular jewel cases like old times. Buy this DG set, you won't regret your decision.

Nowak for 8 spoils the set.......2005-02-22

Because Jochum follows Nowak for Sym 8 (not Haas), this spoils the whole set, in my view. Haas is IMPERATIVE for the slow movement of Sym 8 (see Robert Simpson's book).

Sound is not wonderful in this set either (quite a bit of hiss).

But the performance of Sym 2 is great, so the set does have good bits.

This is the Ultimate Bruckner Cycle!!!.......2005-02-07

I remember listening to the old lps of Jochum doing the Bruckner symphonies and can honestly say they have yet to be interpretively passed. Where others plod and linger sentimentally Jochum phrases and moves things along. In the very difficult works like Nos. 5 and 6 there is also no conductor except Klemperer who can conduct these.

The Bavarian Radio Orchestra in No.5 is easily the finest interpretation put on record. The later matching of Jochum with Dresden is fine but seems to lack the personal touch. On top of this Jochum never allows the Brass to overblow and ruin the texture of any of these works! Every nuance and texture is allowed to stand out!

No. 9 is certainly the very best performance and can sit along Walter and Karajan anyday! As for the sound it is very fine, but when all of these symphonies are given such special playing and feeling you have one of the greatest buys of all time in the classical CD World!

Distinctive, often compelling Bruckner from Jochum.......2004-11-19

Eugen Jochum's DG cycle of the Bruckner symphonies with both the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Berlin Philharmonic was the first ever issued on LP in one set; for that reason, this set will always have its place in classical-recording history. For some, that will be enough to make this a set worth checking out. If you're looking for one representative set for your own personal collection, though...then choice is arguably more difficult.

Jochum, of course, always conducted the Bruckner symphonies in a manner that is very different from that of another famous Bruckner authority, Herbert von Karajan (whose own DG cycle from the later '70s to the early '80s I have not yet heard in its entirety). The former is more in the romantic Wilhelm Furtwangler mold, especially in his use of flexible tempi in almost all of the symphonies in one instance or another.

For those who consider Bruckner "slow" and "boring," these may be the performances to change your mind, since for the most part these are lively, well-thought-out, authoritative performance that truly bring life and passion to Bruckner's music. That said, having heard a reasonable variety of different approaches to these symphonic peaks, I must say that I find Karajan's and Haitink's steadier, more far-seeing approach preferable overall, and that sometimes Jochum's enthusiasm, infectious though it is, gets the better of him. The performances of Bruckner's 4th and 7th Symphonies suffer somewhat in this respect; his unmarked tempo manipulations don't always convince, sacrificing structural wholeness---certainly important in Bruckner's music especially---to the passion of particular moments.

And yet the whole cycle, in the end, comes off better than the sum of its parts. Throughout these performances, whatever you may think of one detail or another, there is never any doubt that Jochum is in full control, that he understands these works (in his own way), and that he truly has something to say about them. His authority shines through in these performances, and that certainly counts for something; these are far from negligible, hardly routine performances, and for that reason alone worth hearing.

The highlights: Jochum's performances of Bruckner's first three symphonies---especially the beautiful 2nd---make very good cases for these rarely-played works. Despite my misgivings about certain aspects of this performance of the popular 4th, as a whole it is also a distingushed reading, very dramatic, and with a sublime slow movement. Jochum's 9th is also very good, with a moving, long-breathed Adagio. But the absolute best performance of this set is this 1958 account of the 5th, a symphony of Bruckner's Jochum loved above the others. The Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra play terrifically throughout, and the brass (with 11 added players) is simply glorious as the symphony winds down with its powerful concluding chorale. This, I think, is a better performance than either Jochum's later Dresden recording or Karajan's much-acclaimed 1976 DG take (though it doesn't quite match Haitink's 1972 Concertgebouw performance, still a personal favorite of mine).

In the end, whatever you may think of Jochum's distinctive view of Bruckner the symphonist, these are still performances of intelligence and convincing (for the most part) fervor and enthusiasm. It may not be the absolute best set available, but it deserves to be heard. Recommended.