Bruckner's 8th: Finally

[Barry]

Bruckner's 8th is a huge favorite of mine, but I've only seen it live once; and never by the Philadelphia Orchestra, whose concerts I attend regularly.
Every season when the schedule comes out, the first thing I look for is whether they're performing Bruckner's 8th. The last time was over a decade ago, before I had caught the Bruckner bug. I kind of figured Eschenbach would conduct it during his tenure since I know he's led it with other orchestras, but it hasn't happened.

I saw that it's on Carnegie Hall's '08-'09 schedule with Haitink and the CSO, but he was the conductor the only other time I saw it live (with the VPO), so I doubt I would have made the trip up there. But I don't have to regardless, because it's finally on next season's PO schedule. I just about jumped up and screamed when I saw it. Sorry Chalkie, but Rattle is conducting. I know a lot of people don't like him, but he led what I thought were strong performances of Bruckner's 7th and 9th here in recent seasons and has a history of coming up big in Philadelphia when leading pieces that are very large in scale (Gurrelieder, Mahler, Bruckner). So I've got May of 2009 marked on my calendar (well, my imaginery calendar, since they aren't out yet for '09) and will try to contain myself until then. I'll probably also stop listening to Bruckner's 8th a fairly long time before the concert so the music will seem fairly fresh to me when the time comes.

Does anyone else reading this have a favorite piece or two that they tend to look for when their local orchestra's schedule for the following season comes out?

[sfbugala]

Does anyone else reading this have a favorite piece or two that they tend to look for when their local orchestra's schedule for the following season comes out?

For me, it was Harmonielehre. Finally, David Robertson programmed it here on his first concert as music director.

For more traditional stuff, I look for Bruckner's 8th or 9th, Mahler's 9th, or anything by Nielsen or Shostakovich. Among so many others...

[Chalkperson]

Sorry Chalkie, but Rattle is conducting.

I'm sorry too, but his hair is turning from grey to white, I guess from the guilt produced by making sooooo many lame recordings with the BPO...I listened to Bruckner's 8th last night actually, on Orfeo from 1966, the Kolner Sinfonieorchester conducted by Joseph Keilberth...

[Barry]

Sorry Chalkie, but Rattle is conducting.

I'm sorry too, but his hair is turning from grey to white, I guess from the guilt produced by making sooooo many lame recordings with the BPO...I listened to Bruckner's 8th last night actually, on Orfeo from 1966, the Kolner Sinfonieorchester conducted by Joseph Keilberth...

Someone was asking about that performance on another board. How did you like it? Keiberth made a nice recording of the 6th with the BPO.

[Chalkperson]

Someone was asking about that performance on another board. How did you like it? Keiberth made a nice recording of the 6th with the BPO.

Great, but not awesome, I like Keilberth and this year is his centenary, I also picked up his Brahms Second Symphony coupled with Schumann's Piano Concerto with Friedrich Guilda and Strauss's Til Engelspiegels but have not played that yet...i'm big fan of Orfeo's discs, rarely a bad one and some very interesting material, especially Opera...

[Barry]

I agree that Orfeo is one of the better labels out there; albeit an expensive one. I like the live Carlos Kleiber orchestral recordings they've released much more than his studio work for DG.

[Jack Kelso]

The live concert that made me most aware of great symphonic music was when William Steinberg guest-conducted the L.A. Phil. in the 1960's. It was Bruckner's 8th.

I had never heard my home-town orchestra sound so good!!

Tschüß!
Jack

[Donaldopato]

I look for any Sibelius. Thankfully this year we have the two Tempest suites, The first Symphony and next season the Fifth.

[Darryl]

Hey Barry, hope you enjoy it very much. I'm tempted to come up and visit family and attend myself. Last year I finally got the Giulini/VPO recording; the only new copy I could find was from hmv.co.jp. I wish the Japanese would make an SACD of it. I love this work too.

PS - Apologies if I appear to be turning this into a Bruckner thread.

[Barry]

No need to apologize Darryl. I'm always happy to discuss Bruckner.

You've got plenty of time to think the trip over since the concert isn't for well over a year. Bring some barbecue up with you if you come .

I bought a copy of that Giulini/VPO 8th from Arkive Music. I guess it's a CDR that they add some packaging to. I like it, but I think I like the 9th they made together even a bit more. Haven't heard their seventh.