Brahms: The Symphonies - Haydn Variations / Academic Festival Overture / Tragic Overture
Weird. Nikolaus Harnoncourt's ideas are almost always interesting and provocative, but over many hearings I find these performances do not wear all that well. The problem with being a critic is that you always crave the novelty of a fresh approach, and Harnoncourt certainly offers that. But there are just too many moments of uncomfortable sounding ensemble, strange phrasing, and most importantly, a blunting of the music's few really important climaxes. If you know the music well and want something different, then it's hard to deny Harnoncourt's conviction. It just leaves a very funny aftertaste.--David Hurwitz