Brahms Symphony Cycles

[cloughie]

Has anyone got the Eduard van Beinum/Concertgebouw cycle recorded in 1958? I have the Violin Concerto and Symphony No 1 with the Haydn Variations, Alto Rhapsody and two overtures. All excellent, the Symphony No 1 in particular is given real momentum and drive in a finely recorded performance and it makes me hanker after the complete set. Currently at £42 on Amazon, it's a bit expensive. An ideal candidate for reissue on Eloquence I would have thought.

They did his Bruckner recordings so there is hope that they might - would be a good £15 worth!

[Beef Oven!]

I’ve had an astonishing road to Damascus episode with Brahms’ symphonies.

I’m now a committed fan (even loving #1, which up to now, I really struggled with). I’ve recently bought a number of cycles, making up for the last 25 years of neglect) to add to my five existing cycles from Abbado BPO, Karajan BPO (1980s & 1960s) & Philharmonia, Celibidache MPO and Berglund COoE.

Boult 1970s
Alsop - LPO
Barbirolli - VPO
Thielemann - Dresden Staatskapelle
Karajan 1970s
Skrowaczewski - Halle
Klemperer Philharmonia (early 1960s?) - an astonishingly good (performance & SQ) Qobuz Hi-Res download, very cheap too.
Jurowski - LPO
Monteux - VPO (#2)
George Szell - Cleveland Orchestra
Karajan - VPO (#3)

Current faves:

#1 Karajan BPO, live RFH
#2 Barbirolli VPO
#3 Thielemann Dresden Staatskapelle
#4 Karajan BPO (1963)

This will change!

[Bryn]

What? No Mackerras SCO?

[Beef Oven!]

What? No Mackerras SCO?

Yes, a huge void, so I believe. We being the creatures we are, a set will no doubt become mine before too long!

[Beef Oven!]

I found this a very good guide to symphony #1.

The other guides from this source are, I’m sure, good too.

http://www.kellydeanhansen.com/index.html

[pastoralguy]

Yes, a huge void, so I believe. We being the creatures we are, a set will no doubt become mine before too long!

I bought that set whilst in Berlin! Talk about a long way round.

[Barbirollians]

Bruno Walter's Columbia recording and the Furtwangler that was on DG are my favourite Brahms 3s with the Boult.Jochum EMI and Loughran not far behind . I have not heard HVK's VPO recording which I understand some consider his best Brahms 3.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Bruno Walter's Columbia recording and the Furtwangler that was on DG are my favourite Brahms 3s with the Boult.Jochum EMI and Loughran not far behind .

Yes - that list coincides almost exactly with my own favourites (I'd only swap the Jochum - which I don't know - for Cantelli). Listening to Kempe with the RPO the other week; that's pretty damn fine, too.

[cloughie]

Yes - that list coincides almost exactly with my own favourites (I'd only swap the Jochum - which I don't know - for Cantelli). Listening to Kempe with the RPO the other week; that's pretty damn fine, too.

A strange thing and no real explanations but the more I listen to Brahms Symphonies the more I want to listen to No 2 anthe less I want to hear 1 3 & 4. I don't know why but there it is.

[Barbirollians]

A strange thing and no real explanations but the more I listen to Brahms Symphonies the more I want to listen to No 2 anthe less I want to hear 1 3 & 4. I don't know why but there it is.

I can understand that. Sometimes , however, one just needs to hear a great performance of works that have become a little jaded to love them all over again . The 1960s HVK Brahms 4 did that for me recently .

[pastoralguy]

Is anyone familiar with a two cd set of Tennstedt conducting the LPO I. the First and Third symphonies in 1992 and 1983 respectively? It seems to be on the BBC's own label. I've had it for years and have only just opened the cellophane wrapping!

Sounds pretty terrific. (Especially the bass instruments!)

[Beef Oven!]

I downloaded this amazing performance of Brahms 3, Furtwangler BPO from Qobuz as a Hi-Res for just £1.99, but there’s no information about the performance. Does anybody know anything about this recording? Especially which year.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I downloaded this amazing performance of Brahms 3, Furtwangler BPO from Qobuz as a Hi-Res for just £1.99, but there’s no information about the performance. Does anybody know anything about this recording? Especially which year.

Judging by the timings of the movements, it's the later of the two BPO versions:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Symphony-2-3-Brahms/dp/B01A61C6IQ/

... my Japanese isn't what it used to be, but the date on the back of the sleeve says "1952": I'd thought it was from 1954.

Anyroadup - youTube will help check timings; this is 1954 (the one I think you have):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y30Sp-hoKsg

... and the 1949 recording:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRQTYE1dyQc

[Beef Oven!]

Judging by the timings of the movements, it's the later of the two BPO versions:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Symphony-2-3-Brahms/dp/B01A61C6IQ/

... my Japanese isn't what it used to be, but the date on the back of the sleeve says "1952": I'd thought it was from 1954.

Anyroadup - youTube will help check timings; this is 1954 (the one I think you have):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y30Sp-hoKsg

... and the 1949 recording:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRQTYE1dyQc

Many thanks ferney, much appreciated.

I looked on the Qobuz site again and I saw this - © 1950 - BnF Collection 2013. :sad face:

Edit: I’ve just read that the 1954 live version doesn’t take the repeat, so my download is probably the 1949 that you list.

[silvestrione]

Can any one tell me, is this offer from Presto the 1960s DG cycle from Karajan?

http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/r/DG/4742632