Bruckner: Symphony No. 8 (1949 recording)

Even those relatively immune to Wilhelm Furtwängler's conducting of the classics admit that his Bruckner stands with the finest ever recorded. That describes this Eighth, recorded live in March, 1949 (but without an audience present) for broadcast recording. Like most of Furtwangler's nonstudio recordings, it bristles with fervor. The slow movement, especially, has a humanity barely approached by most rivals. Of his several Bruckner Eighths on record this one is the most successful in its blend of sustained long lines and improvisatory detail. Furtwangler's command of structure and the intensity of his reading make this vital for all Bruckner fans. The sound is satisfying, despite some graininess and occassional congestion. --Dan Davis