Magic Wand

This is quite a special recording; Bruckner's Symphony No 8 played by the Berliner Philharmoniker conducted by Gunter Wand. The eighth was Bruckner's last completed symphony and the valedictory feel of the recording is enhanced by the conducting of the 89 year old Wand in the final year of his own life. The eighth is a massive symphony anyway, this recording stretching onto two disks and clocking in at just under ninety minutes. Bruckner was always the composer closest to Wand's heart and on his final years he became the foremost interpreter, maintaining a youthful fire and vigour, intelligence and integrity. The Berlin Phil obviously relished the opportunity to play this repertoire with such an expert and justify their standing in the top two of the world's orchestras in this account. This is a live recording in a concert setting, although the applause has been cut. For once, I would not have objected to it remaining on the disk. All the Bruckner cliches about cathedrals in sound, massive architecture etc apply to this symphony but it is much more than a dry academic reading and is a real emotional journey.