Review - Bruckner 8th Symphony played by Staatskapelle Berlin

Anton Bruckner: Symphony No.8
Staatskapelle Berlin
Daniel Barenboim conductor

17 April 2012, Royal Festival Hall, London
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Daniel Barenboim

After Monday's Bruckner 7th Symphony, Tuesday brought the biggest of the lot - the dark and mighty 8th played in solitary splendour with no accompanying Mozart concerto.

While many claim this is the greatest Bruckner symphony (I would say one of 5 or 9 myself), the 8th has eluded many seasoned Bruckner conductors.  Tuesday's concert again highlighted the joys of the Barenboim/Staatskapelle Berlin partnership.  They know eachother well so they can bring out the ebb and flow of Bruckner's works in the moment, and these concerts also bear the hallmarks of careful preparation. Bruckner again emerged with freshness without lacking weight.  Aside from some occasional discomfort in the brass and a lack of shape at the climax of the adagio, the playing was again of a very high standard.  Thinking back to the wonderful Lucerne Festival Orchestra concert of Bruckner's 5th Symphony conducted by Claudio Abbado, the Lucerne players had the edge in terms of sheer orchestral refinement.  However it is the Barenboim/Staatskapelle partnership that is producing the more engaging and thrillingly spontaneous interpretations.  This Friday the "Bruckner project" concludes with the 9th Symphony. I can't wait.