Aimez-Vous Brahms?
Posted by: herm on 22 October 2002
I guess this one of those things that only happen to classical music lovers. I have quite a bunch of Brahms symphonies - i.e. there's four Brahms symphonies, obviously, and I own various recordings of these. And yet I'm looking for a new set. Don’t know why, but more importantly, don’t know which.
The way it's been for the last couple of years is my favorite Third is with the Vienna Philharmonic, conducted by Guilini. It's big and expansive and pensive at the same time, as often with CMG, but the orchestra truly plays like a pack of demons and everything is right.
The Fourth I listen to most frequently would be Haitink and the Boston Symphony. I just love that creamy Boston horn, and the finale is well judged. Haitink is a master of restraint and release, and it works well here.
The Second I returned to recently is Bernstein and the Vienna Phil. Unlike his other Brahms recordings, this is one without theatrical sweatdrenched climaxes etc, probably because it's the 'sunny' symphony (with some pretty hefty brass thunderclouds, though). Again, the orchestra is just astounding; there's just nothing like the string tutti towards the end of the 3d mvt, with the bows deep in those rich strings while the celli 'strum' the guitar.
Last week I picked up the Brahms set by Karl Böhm and the Vienna PO, recorded in the mid seventies, and it was a disappointment. Böhm made some good recordings in those sunset years (Mozart and Beethoven Piano Cti with Pollini), but these are not among them. Suddenly I understand why a lot of people think Brahms is hard to enjoy. The orchestral lines (elementary in Brahms and Schumann, if you want to hear what's going on) are smudged and the rythms lack definition. It's just one big burring fuzz.
So I'm wondering whether anybody out there has a some recommendations. I'm wondering, for instance, whether Todd and Ross, our two resident Kubelikians, have a Brahms by this conductor and whether it's special. There is a set with the Bavarians on Orfeo which I might just get.
PS: the funny thing is this restlessness only applies to the symphonies. I have been listening to the same Brahms chamber music recordings for 25 years now, and they're still as exciting as the first time (Beaux Arts Trio, Quartetto Italiano / Amadeus / Tokyo).
Well, long story, sorry, but I'm curious about your responses.
Herman
The way it's been for the last couple of years is my favorite Third is with the Vienna Philharmonic, conducted by Guilini. It's big and expansive and pensive at the same time, as often with CMG, but the orchestra truly plays like a pack of demons and everything is right.
The Fourth I listen to most frequently would be Haitink and the Boston Symphony. I just love that creamy Boston horn, and the finale is well judged. Haitink is a master of restraint and release, and it works well here.
The Second I returned to recently is Bernstein and the Vienna Phil. Unlike his other Brahms recordings, this is one without theatrical sweatdrenched climaxes etc, probably because it's the 'sunny' symphony (with some pretty hefty brass thunderclouds, though). Again, the orchestra is just astounding; there's just nothing like the string tutti towards the end of the 3d mvt, with the bows deep in those rich strings while the celli 'strum' the guitar.
Last week I picked up the Brahms set by Karl Böhm and the Vienna PO, recorded in the mid seventies, and it was a disappointment. Böhm made some good recordings in those sunset years (Mozart and Beethoven Piano Cti with Pollini), but these are not among them. Suddenly I understand why a lot of people think Brahms is hard to enjoy. The orchestral lines (elementary in Brahms and Schumann, if you want to hear what's going on) are smudged and the rythms lack definition. It's just one big burring fuzz.
So I'm wondering whether anybody out there has a some recommendations. I'm wondering, for instance, whether Todd and Ross, our two resident Kubelikians, have a Brahms by this conductor and whether it's special. There is a set with the Bavarians on Orfeo which I might just get.
PS: the funny thing is this restlessness only applies to the symphonies. I have been listening to the same Brahms chamber music recordings for 25 years now, and they're still as exciting as the first time (Beaux Arts Trio, Quartetto Italiano / Amadeus / Tokyo).
Well, long story, sorry, but I'm curious about your responses.
Herman
I started out on the Brahms symphonies quite fortuitously with No. 1 conducted by Jascha Horenstein, which came free with some dreadful magazine series. The performance is to my taste but the CD transfer is abysmal.
No. 4 I first got on vinyl - Szell and the Cleveland Orch. Also have the same version on CD, but it's not as good of course
. No. 4 is the one I come back to most; hard to pin down its mood in words, but like 1 definitely sees the darker side of life.
No. 2: I was given a CD of Sir COlin Davis and Bavarian Radio SO. Adequate, fair recording. Too upbeat for me!
No. 3: Sir Adrian Boult/LSO. Would play it more if the CD sounded better.
Then recently I got the boxed set bug. The Chamber Orch. of Europe under Paavo Berglund did a chamber version quite recently that I saw well-reviewed and looked as though it could be interesting. Has anyone heard it? Anyway, in the end I went for Kurt Sanderling and the Staatskapelle Dresden. Fairly solid and middle of the road all round I think. A bit more edge, or alternatively more lyricism, wouldn't go amiss sometimes.
I'm surprised there aren't more takers for these works: they're some of my favourite symphonies full stop (or, indeed, period).
No. 4 I first got on vinyl - Szell and the Cleveland Orch. Also have the same version on CD, but it's not as good of course
. No. 4 is the one I come back to most; hard to pin down its mood in words, but like 1 definitely sees the darker side of life.No. 2: I was given a CD of Sir COlin Davis and Bavarian Radio SO. Adequate, fair recording. Too upbeat for me!
No. 3: Sir Adrian Boult/LSO. Would play it more if the CD sounded better.
Then recently I got the boxed set bug. The Chamber Orch. of Europe under Paavo Berglund did a chamber version quite recently that I saw well-reviewed and looked as though it could be interesting. Has anyone heard it? Anyway, in the end I went for Kurt Sanderling and the Staatskapelle Dresden. Fairly solid and middle of the road all round I think. A bit more edge, or alternatively more lyricism, wouldn't go amiss sometimes.
I'm surprised there aren't more takers for these works: they're some of my favourite symphonies full stop (or, indeed, period).