Philippe Herreweghe has a lightness of tread right from the opening cello and horn theme: it… has real forward thrust… There isn't the sheer beauty of sound that Karajan encourages, but the orchestral balance is more naturally achieved on period instruments, with the Wagner tubas making a real effect. In the scherzo, there's an absolutely inexorably drive in the outer sections, and a contrasted lingering in the trio, with some characterful and clean-limbed wind playing - the flute has a particular crystalline beauty.

a wonderfully flexible account of Bruckner's most lyrical work