Brahms Symphony Cycles

[Petrushka]

Re Karajan and Brahms: Did he ever perform, let alone record, the Academic Festival Overture? Some critics would have you believe that it's not top-notch Brahms and perhaps Karajan was inclined to this view, but then, his immense discography does include items which are equally less than top-notch. Is he on record (no pun intended) as disparaging the overture in any way and refusing to tape it?

[HighlandDougie]

Do you know how long these remain up for? And is it a regular thing?

Alas, no idea about how long the NDR audio link is available (although I haven't explored their website which might provide the answer). Video of the concert (split into bite-sized chunks) seems to be available on Arte TV. You'll find the links on this absolutely treasurable website, known, I think, to a good number of forumistos/stas:

http://orchestraondemand.blogspot.co.uk/

[Beef Oven!]

Alas, no idea about how long the NDR audio link is available (although I haven't explored their website which might provide the answer). Video of the concert (split into bite-sized chunks) seems to be available on Arte TV. You'll find the links on this absolutely treasurable website, known, I think, to a good number of forumistos/stas:

http://orchestraondemand.blogspot.co.uk/

Thanks for that link, too!

I had a quick whizz around the NDR site, but it doesn’t say how long there up for (or at least my very limited German revealed nothing!).

[peterkin]

Janowski/Pittsburgh is my favourite set. It really grabbed me on a first hearing, and continues to do so.

Janowski for me with the Klemperer No1

[akiralx]

Re Karajan and Brahms: Did he ever perform, let alone record, the Academic Festival Overture? Some critics would have you believe that it's not top-notch Brahms and perhaps Karajan was inclined to this view, but then, his immense discography does include items which are equally less than top-notch. Is he on record (no pun intended) as disparaging the overture in any way and refusing to tape it?

He did not record it AFAIK - and certainly did not record (or ever conduct) the D minor piano concerto (No. 1) which he seemed to regard as jinxed...

[Petrushka]

He did not record it AFAIK - and certainly did not record (or ever conduct) the D minor piano concerto (No. 1) which he seemed to regard as jinxed...

Yes, Richard Osborne mentions this in his biography (page 504) but no-one seems to know why. Karajan always changed the subject whenever the D Minor Piano Concerto came up. The Academic Festival Overture isn't mentioned anywhere as far as I am aware but remember seeing some comment a very long time ago that Karajan considered the piece below standard and not worthy.

[Stanfordian]

Yes, Richard Osborne mentions this in his biography (page 504) but no-one seems to know why. Karajan always changed the subject whenever the D Minor Piano Concerto came up. The Academic Festival Overture isn't mentioned anywhere as far as I am aware but remember seeing some comment a very long time ago that Karajan considered the piece below standard and not worthy.

I agree with HvK I think the Academic Festival Overture is one of his weakest works.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I agree with HvK I think the Academic Festival Overture is one of his weakest works.

Indeed - but it is Brahms we're talking about; and his "weaker works" are worth the entire catalogues of most of his contemporaries'. (And I prefer it to the Hungarian Dances, anyway.)

[BBMmk2]

Indeed - but it is Brahms we're talking about; and his "weaker works" are worth the entire catalogues of most of his contemporaries'. (And I prefer it to the Hungarian Dances, anyway.)

Very true, Ferney!

[cloughie]

I agree with HvK I think the Academic Festival Overture is one of his weakest works.

I suspect that like most conductors HvK had his favourites and unfavourites - a bit like choir MDs.

[Alison]

In the right hands the Academic Festival can be a belter.

I can still recall Klaus Tennstedt kicking off a London Philharmonic all Brahms programme.

From its limp wispy beginning the overture builds thrillingly to the orchestra at full pelt. As a young school kid sitting in the cheap choir seats I was absolutely riveted. One of my earliest trips to an orchestral concert, the piece provides a young person's guide to the orchestra in all but name.

[Petrushka]

In the right hands the Academic Festival can be a belter.

I can still recall Klaus Tennstedt kicking off a London Philharmonic all Brahms programme.

From its limp wispy beginning the overture builds thrillingly to the orchestra at full pelt. As a young school kid I was absolutely riveted. What writing for the horns!

Do agree! At school music lessons when I was about 12 our music teacher had us singing Gaudeamas Igitur along with the Overture as it played on the turntable. It's a rousing tune and must be one of the first memories I have of classical music.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaudeamus_igitur

[cloughie]

Do agree! At school music lessons when I was about 12 our music teacher had us singing Gaudeamas Igitur along with the Overture as it played on the turntable. It's a rousing tune and must be one of the first memories I have of classical music.

I was about to say the same - good tunes to sing along to!

[Alison]

Interesting that nobody has mentioned the Rattle Brahms cycle.

At the time of release many deemed it very fine, even marking a turning point in his relationship with the Berliners.

Alas a familiar story for me: all very interesting and often impressive yet little urge to relisten.

Thinking about it I haven't returned to the recent LSO Bruckner 8 either to which I would apply the same adjectives.

[Petrushka]

Interesting that nobody has mentioned the Rattle Brahms cycle.

At the time of release many deemed it very fine, even marking a turning point in his relationship with the Berliners.

Alas a familiar story for me: all very interesting and often impressive yet little urge to relisten.

Much the same here. I bought that set on the day it came out but have hardly played it since. Memory says performances are fine but others do them better. 'Little urge to relisten' about sums it up.