The review strongly praises Anima Eterna Brugge and conductor Pablo Heras-Casado’s recording of Bruckner’s original 1873 Third Symphony, calling it unusually explosive, visceral and dramatically detailed. It matters because the period-instrument approach is said to retain Bruckner’s scale and power while bringing out the work’s Wagnerian colour and near-operatic character.

Bruckner reportedly dedicated the symphony to Richard Wagner after visiting Bayreuth in 1873, and Wagner’s influence is prominent in its operatic echoes and monumental climaxes. The Belgian orchestra uses gut strings and original woodwind and brass, producing a pungent sound without sacrificing weight; Heras-Casado is judged more measured than Roger Norrington and less rushed than François-Xavier Roth, while Harmonia Mundi’s close recording captures substantial detail and amplitude.