Monthly Archive: July 2012

Günter Wand Conducts Bruckner: Symphonies Nos. 1 – 9 – Cologne Radio Sym. Orch./ Günter Wand – RCA Red Seal/Sony Music (9 CDs) Bruckner: Sinfonien (Nos. 4, 5, 7, 8 & 9) – Berlin Philharmonic/ Günter Wand – RCA Red Seal/ Sony Music E.U. (6 CDs)

by John Sunier | Jul 22, 2012 | Classical Reissue Reviews

Günter Wand Conducts Bruckner: Symphonies Nos. 1 – 9 – Cologne Radio Sym. Orch./ Günter Wand – RCA Red Seal/Sony Music (9 CDs)  88697776582, TT: 9:15:43 (imported from Germany) [10/10/10] ****: Bruckner Sinfonien [No. 4 “Romantic”; 5 ; 7; 8 ; 9] – Berlin Philharmonic/ Günter Wand – RCA Red Seal/ Sony Music E.U. (6 CDs) 88691921952, (imported from Germany) [2/7/12] *****: I’ve mentioned before that Günter Wand’s Bruckner series has been my choice for some time, in spite of not being able to afford the Japanese multichannel SACD pressings of Nos. 4, 5, 7, 8 & 9. (Only the Symphony No. 8 on the Japanese SACD import is $45 by itself!) Now, however, here are all nine of the symphonies— I never had 1 & 2 previously—in beautifully remastered enhanced quality (though not multichannel SACD), and for only $34. Wand later recorded a boxed set of five of the nine symphonies with the superior Berlin Philharmonic, also from Sony at $46. He had intended to record the entire Bruckner cycle again, but his death intervened. Diehard Bruckner fans will want to consider both new sets strongly, filling in on the missing Nos. 1, 2, 3 & 6 in the Berlin […]