Bruckner: Symphony 6

There are very few recordings of mainstream classical repertoire that a critic can call "the best" and be believed. Bruckner's Sixth by Otto Klemperer is one of these--a recording on which everything just went right. "Old Klemp," as the orchestra fondly called him, was in top form, the players had a great day, and the engineers captured it all in glowingly natural sound. Part of the special quality of this performance stems from the very steady tempo of the opening theme, which allows the more lyrical second subject to blossom forth far more vigorously than usual. In fact, despite the conductor's reputation, this isn't a slow performance at all. It simply flows like some mighty river, to its appointed end. --David Hurwitz