Which Brahms Symphony #4?

[some1x]

Right now, I am listening to this Reiner CD. This symphony is quickly becoming one of my favorites.

Google doesn't seem to help with recommendations for this piece. Which are the reference recordings? What should I listen for in interpretations of this symphony?

 

[mbhaub]

Well, Reiner is going to be hard to beat. There is a huge variation in approaches to Brahms, and it just depends on what you want. An oft-cited reference is the Kurt Sanderling recording, but I wish it had better sound. The Furtwangler shouldn't be missed by anyone interested in Brahms. So, my current favorites are:
1. Mackerras on Telarc (brisk and dramatic, small orchestra)
2. Kleiber on DG (one of the really great performances)
3. Karajan, also on DG. His 60s set is really fine.

As is Jochum, Bohm, Barbirolli, Marriner, Barenboim, Davis....you get the idea. There are a lot of fine Brahms recordings.
There are some bad ones I'd avoid: Maazel with Cleveland goes through all the right motions, but the electricity is near zero. The Mandeal recording on Arte Nova is just slow and dull. Mehta is hampered by a weak orchestra. Toscanini is dramatic but the sound on RCA is wretched.

 

[Tyson]

Kleiber.

 

[Bunnyears]

All of the suggestions are great, but there is also Klemperer who also has a set of all four of the symphonies on EMI. It's nice because if you decide that you would like to hear the other symphonies you will have them at your disposal. Gunter Wand has a different style with the symphonies but is also excellent and that set is much better priced.

 

[daycart1]

Most major organizations are really careful with their Brahms (and Beethoven, etc..) so it is hard to find a less than excellent recording.

To the suggestions above, I'd add at least: Szell/Cleveland, Solti/Chicago, and Abbado/Vienna.

Things to listen for: cello tone in the second theme of the first movement, a nice slow tempo for the second with a big menacing swell in the coda, not too much triangle in the third, and the tone and balance for the trombone choir in the fourth.

 

[Kevin Sinnott]

I've got a dozen or so - no one could claim to have heard them all, but to me, Brahms 4 is the hardest symphony of his to pull off. I also disagree with those print writers who seem to place Walter at the top, both performance and sound-wise. I recently put on an SACD of it I'd just bought and ended it after the third movement.

Now to a favorite:

Janowski ASV - Real surprise here. I'd never heard of it and found it as a cut-out. WOW! He has it all. Great sound, just a slight about of portamento (massed string slide) that conveys that extra emotional zing. It's my favorite overall recording.

 

[Mark from HFR]

I like Wand and Kleiber a lot, but for those who can tolerate old mono sound, the best performance I've ever heard is the 1939 DG recording by Victor de Sabata and the Berlin Philharmonic.

 

[SoundsGood]

I would have to recommend Kleiber's Brahms 4 as well. A firecracker of a performance.

I own Gunter Wand's second Brahms cycle, it's live with the NDRSO. I like much of it quite a bit. I am curious as to how it compares to his earlier cylce with the same orchestra, that was recommended above. Does anyone here own both cycles? How are they different? I've read elsewhere the first cycle is to be preferred, but I've never bought it.

 

[Ferbose]

I am waiting for Marin Alsop to do #4 with Naxos on SACD.
So far she has only recorded #1.
Might take a few more years.

 

[mbhaub]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ferbose I am waiting for Marin Alsop to do #4 with Naxos on SACD. So far she has only recorded #1.

I can wait...I was terribly disappointed with #1: I don't think she's lived with Brahms long enough. It would make people happy in a live performance, but the recorded legacy is too great, and her interpretation isn't. Tempo changes are sometimes badly managed, orchestral balances wrong, a couple of lousy edits. It just can't stand up to the fierce competition. The SACD sound isn't all that spectacular either.

 

[DarkAngel]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tyson Kleiber 4th.

Very hard to surpass especially in newest CD release which has new remaster vs older DG Originals, sounds better plus includes very worthwhile couplings with Schubert 8th and Wagner.......all at mid price, a cornerstone of any Brahms collection! (aka buy this now)

Klemperer & Walter
Each complete set is too flawed for strong recommendation, but if I combined Klemperer 1,4 with Walter 2,3 I would have a strong set that highlights best of both (expecially the magnificent Klemperer 1st)

The Reiner/Chesky is one of the best 4ths but must bow before the mighty Kleiber.

BTW I do not like HIP Brahm's like MacKerras, have the set for reference but much prefer richer toned modern instruments for romantic composer like Brahms

 

[calaf]

listen to tyson. It is Kleiber or nothing

 

[Kevin Sinnott]

Quote:

Originally Posted by calaf listen to tyson. It is Kleiber or nothing

I agree Kleiber plays the tightest Brahms you're ever likely to hear. But, it's a view, almost Brahms played as Beethoven. There's a wider range of Brahms performance, such as Walter's, Jochum, Sanderling etc, where a sweeter, more reflective stance is taken. This doesn't take away from Kleiber, but offers a different perspective, one easily as valid.

No doubt about it, though, Kleiber is dynamic.

 

[some1x]

Quick update:

I have both Karajan and Kleiber's recordings now. The Reiner remains my favorite; maybe this is because I heard the Reiner first and more often. I really like the second movement, so I used it as the basis for comparison. The horns sound marvelously expansive; the pizz sections has palpable body; the pacing feels just right (Reiner is slower than both Kleiber and Karajan); overall, the sonic palette just feels more right in Reiner's version.

The horns in Kleiber's recording sounded rather muffled. I guess they are improved in the re-issue.

 

[augustwest]

Buno Walter - Despite the age of the recording it still sounds good, can be had at less than full price & is among the top performances of the Brahms symphonies.

- augustwest