Brahms Symphonies and Concerti

Zillions of great violin concerti. Here is one from your time period: Perlman/Giulini/Chicago.

I love the Szell stuff, too. But for the PC you might try Pollini/Abbado/Vienna.

I'm usually not much of a Pollini fan, but these are great!

I do not have extensive collection of Brahm's violin concerto, but of course have many sets of 4 symphonies.....easy to collect since most fit on 2-3 CD sets and often have the two overtures also.

Jochum/EMI 1,2,3, overtures
Mid price stereo 2CD set get the palm for best overall Brahms, very good sound paired with bold, heroic, flexible tempo. Essential for any Brahms fan simply must be purchased at all costs!
There is older mono complete set by Jochum for DG Originals, but stereo EMI is best.


Kleiber/DG 4
To complete the fantasy team Brahms set started with Jochum 1,2,3 get the legendary Kleiber 4th.....now you have a set to last the ages! The DG Originals sound is brightly lit, but wait DG has released updated version with better pairing Schubert 8th and Wagner scence. I am hoping sound has been improved also making this the version to get.


Klemperer/EMI 1
One more absolutely essential Brahms that simply must be owned, part of Klemperer Legacy series which means has newest ART remaster this version simply rules all before it. Listen to the thunderous opening tympani strikes, OMG are you kidding me......makes Szell, Solti sound tame by comparison, briliiant performance that has not been surpassed for me.


I have just cherry picked the absolute essential Brahms recordings above, will detail many more I own or have heard as time permits......BTW I also own the Szell/Sony set.

Listen to DA, he is absolutely spot on with his recs.

Oh yeah, the violin concerto - here ya go, Oistrakh on the DG Originals label

:

Seems these threads always end up costing me money.....

I did just order the newest Kleiber/DG 4 pictured above, and will sell my DG Originals version at Amazon. Tower still has 25% off DG label this month which eased the pain a bit.....now more Brahms sets:


Wand/RCA 1,2,3,4
Like his fine Beethoven set Wand has straightforward style that works well with Brahms, everything just seems right good balance among instrument groups. The newest RCA recordings have been nicely remastered on 2CDs, unfortunately no overtures.(there is older 3CD set on RCA but get remasters)


Karajan/DG (1977) 1,2,3,4
There are 3-4 sets of Brahms by Karajan, you want to get the 1977-78 versions. Similar to his Beethoven cycles Karajan had his own Brahm's style which some don't appreciate, perhaps too heavy on string sections at the expense of woodwind and brass comapred to others. Analog sound is very good and BPO in top form, low price 2CD set.

Abbado/DG 1,2,3,4 overtures
This is one of best cycles out there in many ways, has new modern recording using same BPO as Karajan but to better overall effect. Very balanced performances with excellent sound, no real weakness and if not for high price could well be first choice overall, only available as full price 4CD set. There may be a slight lack of character/spring/elan compared to best classic versions from the past like Jochum, Kleiber who would still would be my 1st choice references.

MacKerras/Telarc
Now budget price, uses "period" instruments for unique take on Brahms. Worth a listen but not reference versions for me.

Harnoncourt/Teledec
As usual Harnoncourt does things a bit different with tempo and phrasings etc, sound is good but overall I am not a big fan and prefer other approaches.

Bernstein/Sony
Similar to the Szell versions and much preferable to his lackluster later DG set. Very passionate and red blooded as Lenny is known for back then, but sometimes misses some fine neuances. Still one of my favorite sets.

Walter/Sony
Worth checking out 2 & 3 since these suit Walters style, but seems a out of place in 1 & 4.

Renier/Chesky 4
Not quite replacing the Kleiber 4, but still a work of noteable stature that dispatches most newer versions quite handily.

Solti/London 1,2,3,4
Better than you think, but not reference material......Solti of course showcases brass just the opposite of Karajan string emphasis.

Klemperer/EMI GROTC 1,2,3,4 overtures
Already mentioned 1st symphony is reference quality, other symphonies have unique take with strong sense of solid structure, but not in same exaulted status. Perhaps lacking the flexiblity needed in 2,3 flowing rythms.

Now for the piano concertos my top picks for set:

Fleisher/RCA 1,2
Szell conducting Cleveland Orch., concertos in stereo but some filler works in mono. Always like the team of Fleisher and Szell, my favorite overall and touches me like no other, my reference set. Also like this teams Beethoven concerto set.

Hough/Virgin 1,2
Modern recording that sounds wonderful with performances to match, budget price great bargain.

Gilels/DG Originals 1,2
This set has stood test of time with Jochum conducting, but I am more moved by Fleisher.



Individual piano concertos:

Curzon/Decca Legends 1
Features Szell conducting LSO this time in 1962 recording, Curzon has good lyrical sense and remaster sounds fresh and alive.

Richter/RCA 2
This is an eye opener, the panache and virtuosity sweep away all before it, listen and be amazed. Fortunately we have good 1960 stereo recording to capture this rare performance, Leinsdorf coducting CSO.

dshea......where are you man? Any orders placed for more Brahms?

I just got the newest Kleiber/DG Brahms 4 pictured above and the sound quality has been greatly improved over DG Originals version which had bright/thin overall sound......I have it for sale now. If you had any lingering doubts about this being reference Brahms 4th the remastered sound puts it all to rest, it is fabulous. Tyson put your order in for new Kleiber version while Tower has 25% sale.

The new version has 79+ minutes of music including a distinguished Schubert 8......one caveat here in 1st movement of 8th you can hear Kleiber bouncing around on podium, this can be tolerated as Solti and Bernstein also often can be heard doing the same.

DA,
Dang it you are going to cost me more money, and I'm still recovering from the set of Simpson Symphonies and Holmboe Symphonies. Sigh, if the sound is that much better, I guess it is worth it.

dshea,
Oistrakh is unbeatable for interpretation, but sound quality is merely good, not great. For more modern sound and also very good interpretation, check out Joshua Bell, perhaps the most overtly emotional rendition I've heard, a personal favorite.

And, if you haven't heard Gilels/Jochum in the PC's, they are definitely better than Fleisher/Szell, IMO (I have that set, too).

Tyson.....your wallet will survive this minor nick, you know it must be done. Besides I now realize where all your spare green goes after glancing at that scotch thread......OMG you should write a book on that!

I cannot argue with anyone liking the Gilels as reference for piano concertos, they do take a slightly different path from the Fleisher versions.....but you know dshea is a Szell man so his die is cast.

I am surprised at the small response to this Brahms thread, yet large number of responses to discuss obscure "little known" classical music.....oh well.

Well, I'm not a big Brahms fan, nevertheless some recordings made me appreciate the music.

If you can stand mono recordings, don't miss Furtwangler and Toscanini.
For Furtwangler, good starting points would be Hamburg No.1 (Tahra), Vienna 45 No.2 (DG), 54 No.3 (DG) and the wartime No.4 (various). For Toscanini, both of NBCSO set and Philharmonia live set is nice. I usually don't like his reading, however it works for Brahms, intellectual and normal in the best sense. Especially Philharmonia No.2 and NBC No.4 are worth listening.

Among stereos, I love Bohm's VPO cycle. Lovely generous but never tedious playing. Bohm's BPO 1st is also worth to note (plus power). I always thought Kleiber live No.4 (Exclusive) is better than studio version (more intensity) while seeing little sympathizer.

There does appear to be live stereo Kleiber Brahms 4th with VPO from 1979:


No one seems to have it in stock though, I would pick one up if cost was reasonable.

I like Szell quite a bit myself, and if it were not for Jochum, he would be my top pick for the brahms symphonies and as an accompanist to Fleisher in the PC's. But Jochum is a special case in Brahms. He is so far an away better in brahms than anyone else that it is breathtaking. I'm normally not a huge Gilels fan either, but IMO Jochum inspires him to do some of his best work ever. Now if I could just find a recording of the violin Concerto with Jochum I'd be a happy man.