Some time ago I read a review of Boulez conducting Bruckner 8.  If I
remember well, the opinions on this recording were not so spectacular.  Now
I have bought this CD, and to me it seems an extraordinary interpretation.
Beautiful playing of the VPO, very well recorded sound, and as an overall
performance between the best.  And who are for me the best? Celibidache
with the Munchers, Sinopoli with the Dresdeners, von Karajan, and van
Beinum .. and now also Boulez.  I have (and listen regularly to) Celibidache
Stuttgart, Furtwangler, Knappertsbursch, Horenstein, Jochum.  And why does
it seem to me that these "grand old masters" are not coming over as well
as the others? Is there something wrong with me or my listening? It is not
the recorded sound.  Normally I listen very concentrated to this sympony,
I read the score carefully (with some limitations, because I have only the
Eulenburg Nowak 1879 score, and with Haas versions it is often difficult
to refind your way reading).  Why do I love Celi's slow Munchen 8 together
with Karajan and the atlethic van Beinum? Why do I not find in Horenstein
or Furtwangler the same concentration as in Celibidache and Boulez? Do
the list members disagree often with the standard critics? I think that
Horenstein, Furtwangler, Knapp and Jochum should be the best...  Are they
not or am I wrong? I hope that the list members can help me, I am
confused...

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