Bruckner: Symphony No. 8 by Eugen Jochum (2025 Remastered, Amsterdam 1984)

Here is “The Great” Brucknerian Symphony par excellence—the tragic one, the apocalyptic one. Titan-like in its aspect and duration, of a spiritual dimension and radiant wisdom. In truth, we lack words and superlatives…

Of all Bruckner’s symphonies, the Eighth is the most monumental, an immense fresco upon which the musical nineteenth century closes, the crowning achievement of the Romantic symphony. The Eighth has sometimes been subtitled the “Symphony of Fate,” by analogy with Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, also in C minor. This label, however, should be understood as an abuse of language: Beethoven is filled with Man who, on an epic mode, ultimately affirms his victory. Bruckner is filled with God: Man, the artist, has as his mission the revelation of a divine truth, and struggles for that revelation. It is this struggle—not, properly speaking, a ‘fate’—that is expressed in the Eighth Symphony, with its tragedies and its hopes.

As always, Eugen Jochum, a fervent Brucknerian, behaves like a prophet, and public performances seem to suit him particularly well. This recording, which captures more fully the acoustics of Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw, gives us the impression of being seated in the first balcony, as though we were truly present on that memorable evening of 26 September 1984 among the audience. A great moment of music.