Karajan Bruckner

This is the second of Herbert von Karajan's three versions of this symphony for Deutsche Grammophon, and it's a very nice one. Karajan always did well by the orchestral portions of this symphony, playing them sort of like proto-Bruckner. In the finale, as in his 1963 recording, he seems to prefer a very light, backward-balanced choral sound that will not appeal to those who believe that Beethoven meant the words to be heard. That reservation aside, this performance can be recommended as typical of Karajan and the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra in top form.

Anton Bruckner: Symphony No. 7 in E major – Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin; Ricardo Chailly, conductor
Classical | 1 CD | EAC Rip | 310 MB (3% recovery) | FLAC+LOG+Cue | Partial scans
Publisher: Decca | Recorded: 1985 | Published: 2008

This 1985 Seventh, the first release in Riccardo Chailly's 15 year-old Bruckner symphony cycle, is a wonderful performance, thankfully available again. Chailly takes a majestic view of the work… Decca's remastering for this release adds just a bit more clarity and presence to what was already a dynamic and full-sounding recording. A great Bruckner seventh. –Victor Carr; classicstoday.com

Volume 2 of EMI's comprehensive Herbert von Karajan centenary edition gathers virtually all of the conductor's operatic and vocal output for the label in one place, taking up 71 CDs (Disc 72 contains complete librettos in the form of PDF files). I use the word "virtually" because the package omits four posthumously issued archival items taped live during the 1957-60 Salzburg Festivals (Beethoven's Missa solemnis, Brahms' German Requiem, Bruckner's Te Deum, and Verdi's Requiem). Otherwise, it's all here.

Karajan’s Deutsche Grammophon complete recordings is recorded on chronological order. From the “Magic Flute” overture of the 1938 recording used as first recording to the recording of the last in 1989, and the Symphony No.7 of Bruckner. There is no selling separately. It becomes ordering limited production.

Not so under Jochum, whose new performance is grand, powerful, spontaneous. Aided by powerful sound, the performance is like no other in its power and impact though it partially resembles the Furtwangler in general intention. It is a more daemonic reading than the early Karajan or the Haitink. dramatic rather than epic but with a huge scope all of its own.

A luxurious and authoritative 64CD orchestral and concerto set, celebrating one of the world’s great orchestras and their 64-year relationship with Decca Classics.
Few labels can claim to be so associated with a city as inextricably as Decca is with Vienna. No history of classical recordings would be complete without a chapter documenting how both Decca and the WP worked to perfect the art of recording in the city’s great concert halls, most notably in the famous Sofiensaal.