From: "alexander inglis" <alexander.inglis@canrem.com>
Subject: brahms symphonies
Reply-To: "alexander inglis" <alexander.inglis@canrem.com>
Organization: Canada Remote Systems
Distribution: rec
Date: 13 Dec 92 16:49:35 EST

DB>>: >I'd like to solicit opinions about the best performances of
  >: >Brahms Symphonies, both individual symphonies and complete cycles.
  >: >Jan Chomicki                              Computing and Information Scien
  >: >chomicki@cis.ksu.edu                      234 Nichols Hall
  >: >Phone: (913) 532-6350                     Kansas State University
  >: >Fax: (913) 532-7353                       Manhattan, KS 66506-2302
  >:
  >: 1: Klemperer (EMI), Furtwangler (DG)
DB>And if you ever spot the 1951 NDRO/Furtwaengler (Nuova Era) snap it
  >- up. I think it's WF's finest, which makes it top of the heap, IMO.

DB>: 2: no recommendation
DB>Walter (Sony).

DB>: 3: Levine (RCA), Furtwangler (DG)
DB>Also Cantelli (EMI).

DB>: 4: Kleiber (DG), Celibidache (Movimento Musica)
DB>The 1948 Furtwaengler (ERMI Japan, ASDisc, Virtuoso, Toshiba)
  >outclasses them all.

DB>I have also to put in a word for the 1952 Philharmonia/Toscanini set
  >of all 4, plus the Tragic Ov. and Haydn Variations (Hunt). I don't
  >normally warm much to AT, but these performances totally outclass his
  >NBC ones. Sound is fairly good, although there are some extraneous
  >bangs in the 4th, caused by some idiots letting off fireworks on the
  >roof of the Royal Festival Hall.

As cycles, Klemperer's, Walter's and the above-mentioned Toscanini are
fine recommendations. Walter also recorded the cycle with the New York
Phil in mono in the early 50s. It surfaced on Odyssey but hasn't been
seen in CD days. I too have reservations about Toscanini most of the
time, and this set shouldn't be confused with the sometimes appalling
playing of the RCA NBC cycle.

The Szell set was cited by someone else: I don't think the transfers are
all that great nor do I believe it to be great Brahms playing per se.
However, it is very attractively priced.

I haven't seen a comment on the Wand cycle here. After everyone else of
his generation was dead, the record companies discovered Wand big time
and decided he was the Grand Old Man offering the Truth of a Bygone Era.
He's a fine musician and the ensembles he normally records with are
solid but not outstanding. But I haven't heard the single-minded vision
from his recordings one finds from better known "brands".

Furtwaengler, Mengelberg, Weingartner are all worth pursuing. The
Weingartner set is on EMI References and is amazingly good. Recorded in
the late 30s, Weingartner was himself 80ish. You'd think "portamento"
and excess but they are fine, clean performances by someone who not only
knew Brahms but loved the music, too.

EMI has yet to get off it's stick and release a lot of its Furtwaengler
so there are some treasures awaiting us. The DGG Third Symphony,
however, is not one of his best outings. The DGG First is stellar.

Alexander Inglis  |  InterNet: alexander.inglis@canrem.com
Toronto,  Canada  |  CompuServe: 70307,20     BIX: ainglis
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