Symphony No.8; Symphony No.8;

Celibidache once described that ''Bruckner's Eight Symphony is the zenith of symphonic writing''... And Giulini once realized one of the greatest Eights ever recorded and performed (with Wiener Philharmoniker, in 1984, on Deutsche Grammophon-Masters, Studio recording, DDD - See my Bruckner list)... This live recording(ADD-stereo) was made with Philharmonia in Royal Festival Hall in 1983; now on BBC-Legends. As recorded sound, ofcourse this is not in 'high' quality when I compare with his studio recording. However this performance is also great and good recorded. If you have Giulini's studio version (now,out-of-print) and if you loved it, you'll love this too. If you have not,you must buy this one: Same class orchestra, same class interpretation and same Giulini !... Magnificient, intense, emotional, rightly structured, honestly conducted and relatively slow...You will need to cry...Highly recommended...Trust me...
My favorite & 'great' Eights : Knappertsbusch (1963-MP, on DG-Westminster), Giulini (1984-WP on DG; 1983-PO live,on BBC), and Karajan (1957-BP, on EMI and 1975-BP & 1988-WP, on DG).
In my opinion, other very good & important recordings: Jochum (1976-SD, on EMI), Bohm (1976-WP,on DG), Wand (1979-Köln, on BMG/RCA), Celibidache (1993-MP live,on EMI), and Maazel (1990-BP,on EMI).

BBC Legends has done a lot to enhance the reputation of quite a few undervalued conductors who were at their best in concert (Tennstedt, Horenstein, and Barbirolli come to mind), but they have also amplified some already great reputations. This Bruckner 8th from 1983 is a case in point. Giulini made a specialty of Bruckner, and his grave, heartfelt studio Eighth with the Vienna Phil. on DG earned raves when it appeared in 1984.

At 88 min. it was one of the slowest versions on disc, fully 10 min. longer than Boulez, also with the VPO on DG. This live version takes 86 min., not a big difference, but it feels as if it's less on the verge of stopping. In addition, the Philharmonia, which was more Giulini's own orchestra than Vienna ever was, plays for him with obvious feeling, adding a special tenderness that helps to keep the long, slow lines involving for the listener. A good example is the Scherzo, taken broadly and without rhythmic snap but fully alive thanks to the mystery generated in the soft string passages. As to sound, this is good FM-stereo without distortion, comparable to an average studio recording. In sum, a great performance unless you demand more overt speed and drama, in which case the Boulez offers many rewards.

CD 2 continues with the Dvorak 8th Sym., another specialty of Giulini's that he recorded to acclaim for EMI. When BBC Legends duplicates repertoire like this, there has to be a good reason. I'm not sure the balance tilts their way here. The reading as such is wonderful, in the elegant, uplifting manner that Giulini always favored with Dvorak. But on a bargain EMI Gemini two-fer you can get his studio 8th with the same orchestra from the same era (1962 versus 1963 for the live reading) in better sound. Here we get serviceable FM-stereo that's a little murky and showing its age. The filler is a dashing Semiramide Over. from later in 1963 but mono this time, that shows why Giulini was so admired in Rossini--his reading is lovingly shaped and by no means a frivolous toss-off.