Bruckner’s Third Symphony was always something of a symphonic problem child, from its disastrous first performance (notwithstanding the enthusiastic reception it received from a young Gustav Mahler) until well into the 20th century. In its original form, it’s the longest, most Wagnerian of his symphonies that is often considered, rightly or wrongly, the first truly Brucknerian symphony. While some cherish the uncompromising originality of the first version, Bruckner himself preferred the much tighter 1889 third version, finding it “incomparably better”. This recording of that final version now enables listeners to decide for themselves.