Anton Bruckner can be considered as one of the big pillars of German / Austrian symphonic music. Together with his friend Gustav Mahler he developed the musical form to new heights from where Beethoven left it. The approval of his music in the last century was rising, which makes it odd that the man always doubted himself.
From this symphony alone, three distinctive versions can be distinguished. This is the ‘Linzer’ version, but it is unclear if this is the revised or the first Linzer. Well, I don’t really care, but I was wondering for a minute.
Bruckner might have done that because he listened to the musicians complain about his complicated demands. He changed his music to make it better playable, but in the process he removed some of his best inventions.
The recording is made in the former German Democratic Republic, East Germany. The Gewandhausorchester Leipzig is a well respected orchestra with a really good sound. I suppose they must have been moved into their new fancy concert hall in the centre of Leipzig when they did this recording. It is just as modern and eighties style as the cover of this record.