Bruckner: Symphony No. 3 Royal Scottish National Orchestra/Georg Tintner (Naxos 8.553454).

Bruckner: Symphony No. 3 Royal Scottish National Orchestra/Georg Tintner (Naxos 8.553454)

This release has been hailed in many quarters as "magnificent," "revelatory," and so forth, and I must say that when I listen to it, I certainly feel as though I am getting my six bucks' worth. As opulent and grand as everything sounds, however, I cannot quite help but think that this performance is just WAY TOO S-L--O--W! My goodness, Tintner stretches the first movement out to 30:34. When I put on my old Sinopoli disc (DG 431 684-2), it is like a breath of fresh air; Sinopoli takes the first movement in 21:08, but it never sounds rushed. I have also enjoyed the Inbal version, which I have borrowed from the library from time to time, and I have borrowed and owned several versions that have left me unimpressed. In my view then, the Tintner disc on Naxos is an interesting alternative version that can be obtained quite cheaply, but it would not serve well as a first choice. I would recommend instead Inbal or Sinopoli, but the way the recording industry is heading these days, I'm not willing to guarantee that either of those discs is still in print. Oh well, there's always the library ... -- KWN