Search - Bruckner - Symphony No. 8 / Mehta, Israel Philharmonic on DVD

Not this one, buy the Herbert Von Karajan instead !

Adam L. Molella | Joliet, Illinois United States | 06/08/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This is NOT nearly as good a perfomance as the SONY DVD with
Herbert Von Karajan conducting the Weiner Philhrmonic. Zuben Mehta must have been sick that day, and coughes as crutial moments. The Israel Philharmonic plays timidly, when majestic playing is required: THEY SEEM LIKE THEY JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING ! The Wiener Philharmonic is TRUELY better able to handle Brucker, and Karajan IS the "papa" of recording this kind of music."

Un-ideomatic

Mr John Haueisen | 08/19/2002

(1 out of 5 stars)

"Not for the purist. Mehta and the Israelis struggle through this monumental symphony.
Clearly not comfortable with this metaphysically complex music. Mehta is best at accompanying singers in light hearted fare. If you are looking for a Bruckner 8th on DVD, you may have to wait till Sony releasers the epic and masterful realization by Celibidache and the Munich Philharmonic."

Not worth to make a DVD out of it

H. Thomas | Schweiz | 06/18/2005

(2 out of 5 stars)

"I would not say it the way others do in reviews, an orchestra that is not from german speaking soil can shure play Bruckner as good as a Berlin Philarmonic. The problem with this orchestra from Israel is that it simply is not a top level orchestra. When I hear the many missed tones from the brass section (the wagner tubas even miss the tones in the first measures) and the bad pitch of the strings, I would say for an amateur-village-orchestra they play pretty good. The conductor swings his lower jaw around it seems he could loose it any moment. His conducting is very theatralic, I dont understand much about conducting but he does not make a good impression."

Zubin Mehta saves the day

Mr John Haueisen | WORTHINGTON, OHIO United States | 06/24/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"The other reviewers are correct. This is not the best possible Bruckner 8th. Yet it has one exceptional good point: Zubin Mehta seems passionately involved in this performance.

Whatever shortcomings this performance may have, we can certainly not fault Mehta's enthusiasm. He begins the concert very crisply attired, but by the end of the Adagio movement, he is already sopping wet. The finale pushes him to the limits of human endurance.

In spite of the various negative comments others have made, this is still a moving Bruckner, and the Frankfurt audience appreciated it. The applause continued for many minutes after the music had ended.

Yes, there are better performances (Karajan with the Vienna Philharmonic) but, if you enjoy Bruckner, or Zubin Mehta, you will still find much to enjoy in this performance."