ME 336 Schönzeler conducts Bruckner Symphony No 8 Bournemouth Symphony 1973

Bruckner: Symphony No 8

First recording of the original version

Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra conducted by
Hans-Hubert Schönzeler

Winter Gardens, Bournemouth, August 1973

Maestro Editions here presents the first performance and recording of the original 1887 version of Bruckner’s Symphony no 8. As with other symphonies, the composer was persuaded to make exten- sive changes before publication, and it was available only in revised forms until Leopold Nowak’s authoritative edition for the International Bruckner Society, published in 1972. The premiere was conducted by the distinguished Bruckner authority and biographer Hans-Hubert Schönzeler, in a BBC production without audience which involved several days of rehearsal and recording, and was broad-

cast on Radio 3 on Sunday 2 September 1973 at 11.00. Unfortunately the BBC did not keep the master tape, but the broad- cast was recorded privately in excellent sound.

The BBC also broadcast a talk on the original edition by the musicologist Deryck Cooke, illustrated with extracts from the recording. This and a scan of the script can be downloaded from the web- site of the Bruckner Discography and Bruckner Archive, an invaluable source of recordings and information:

https://www.abruckner.com/articles/arti- clesenglish/cookederyckbbcintr/

First CD release

ME.336

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