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In the Forum: Musical Discussions
In the Thread: ... and some Bruckner buzz
Post Subject: Bruckner 8; Wand, NDR, Lubeck (1987)!Posted by Paul S on: 2/18/2024
As for the Musical Part of this CD, it could hardly be more amazing. I understand that the performance was taped live by German Public TV, and this might well mean that there is a great DVD of this event. Harmonia Mundi was also involved, and I will try digging into this in the near future, to see if there are any leads to other good recordings of this performance. Here Wand commands a very large orchestra that is composed of crack musicians who are also athletes. They must have been exhausted after that performance, as Wand really drives them. Wand deftly tailors the sound and the Musical structure both to include the reverberation in the cathedral. He also uses the many sections of this orchestra to get special chromatics, texture, dynamics, consonance, harmony and dissonance. His timing is impeccable, very “organic”, and very much in sync with the space. Many music loving musicologists have raved at length about this performance, and I add my up-vote to theirs. I have said that this CD does not tax my system, but I should add that all components must be fully warmed up and at their best for me to get the best from this CD, because there is a lot of There there. Then the Music is huge, powerful, downright enveloping, and truly awe inspiring, with the touted “presence ambiance” from beginning to end, including the quietest to the loudest passages. This performance takes nearly 90 minutes, including the parts and the Whole of this great, mighty Symphony. This performance sets the bar pretty high for B8 aspirants.

Paul S

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