Brahms Symphony Cycles

[Pulcinella]

Thanks very much Petrushka.

I’ve gone for 3 second hand copies from Amazon UK Marketplace. Total came to £6.60 including p&p.

What's the verdict, Beefy?
I'm not sure that I would go for a big Szell box, but there are still some single s/h copies available at a good price, and I'm quite tempted (even with Boult and Wand already in my collection), given that I like his piano concerto recordings!

I might just be able to sneak three more CDs onto my shelves!

[Beef Oven!]

What's the verdict, Beefy?
I'm not sure that I would go for a big Szell box, but there are still some single s/h copies available at a good price, and I'm quite tempted (even with Boult and Wand already in my collection), given that I like his piano concerto recordings!

I might just be able to sneak three more CDs onto my shelves!

I only ordered them a few hours ago - give us a chance man!!!!

[Pulcinella]

I only ordered them a few hours ago - give us a chance man!!!!

Oops: perhaps we ought to be on the CDs that you're waiting for in the post thread!

[kea]

Not sure if it's been mentioned yet but another set of which I'm particularly fond is Eugen Jochum's cycle with the BPO. It's 1950s mono sound which is a pity but the DG remastering is excellent and they are as fiery and propulsive as the Szell. I've not heard his later LPO set but would imagine it has something of the same virtues.

I prefer the LPO set to the BPO set in every instance. (as suggested upthread, it's a favourite in general.) That said, it's different. Less extrovert/more reserved, though just as propulsive; sometimes played with less affection and energy; always more coherent and ultimately more powerful (despite the restraint). Usually faster in terms of tempo.

[HighlandDougie]

Not sure if it's been mentioned yet but another set of which I'm particularly fond is Eugen Jochum's cycle with the BPO.

My father loved Brahms so his symphonies were very much part of my musical upbringing - the Jochum 1st and 2nd from this set were the recordings through which I came to know these symphonies (err, over 50 years ago) (along with the Boehm Ace of Clubs 3rd and I can't remember which 4th - Markevitch maybe?). As Pet says, the remastering is excellent.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I then purchased the Loughran/Halle cycle on CfP (one a week!) and that was my introduction to a cycle. I listened to them recently on cd and found that they were as good as I remembered them.

- exactly how I got to know the works, too: and, yes, every time I play the cycle I'm astonished afresh by how good the performances are. A great way into Brahms, and one that still resounds, forty (and more) years on!

My next purchase was the Karajan 1978/79 cycle on DG (one a month!) I still think the are terrific. Incredible playing!

- great readings; as were Herbie's '60s and '80s recordings, too. (IIRC, the first time I ever heard the Third Symphony was a BBC2 broadcast of the film Karajan made of it in the mid-70s.)

[gurnemanz]

When updating to CD versions as this medium took over from LP, my "cycle" was Böhm/BPO: 1 & 4 and Sanderling/Dresden: 2 & 3. I have since acquired various other versions but these original choices still stand up pretty well.

[Petrushka]

What about the more recent Brahms sets from the Leipzig Gewandhaus/Chailly and Bavarian RSO/Jansons?

How do these stand up to the stiff competition?

[Alison]

I really enjoyed the Chailly set which I downloaded a couple of years ago. I have occasionally revisited unlike the Rattle discs.

That said, I am about to settle down to the Rattle Second.

[richardfinegold]

Thanks very much Petrushka.

I’ve gone for 3 second hand copies from Amazon UK Marketplace. Total came to £6.60 including p&p.

The 1st was issued by Sony with a new re mastering which is audibly superior to the original CD transfers. Unfortunately AFAIK the others were never similarly remastered. I would seek out the remasterd First.

[Beef Oven!]

The 1st was issued by Sony with a new re mastering which is audibly superior to the original CD transfers. Unfortunately AFAIK the others were never similarly remastered. I would seek out the remasterd First.

Bit late for that.

[Barbirollians]

I agree about the superiority of the later Jochum set I found the BPO set seemed rather a work in progress. Then again the LPO /Jochum Brahms 1 was the first I owned so the.at might explain my partiality .

[Petrushka]

The 1st was issued by Sony with a new re mastering which is audibly superior to the original CD transfers. Unfortunately AFAIK the others were never similarly remastered. I would seek out the remasterd First.

The set I got last week sounds pretty good to me. I played the 1st Symphony after the Beethoven Pastoral in the recently re-issued and -re-mastered Sony set and detected little difference between them. There seems little trace of that well known CBS glare and closeness in the whole cycle that disfigured so many recordings from that source.

I think that BeefO can rest in confidence that his set/s will be the same as mine.

[Beef Oven!]

The set I got last week sounds pretty good to me. I played the 1st Symphony after the Beethoven Pastoral in the recently re-issued and -re-mastered Sony set and detected little difference between them. There seems little trace of that well known CBS glare and closeness in the whole cycle that disfigured so many recordings from that source.

I think that BeefO can rest in confidence that his set/s will be the same as mine.

Hope so

What I listened to on Spotify or Apple Music (can’t remember which) sounded fine.

Small outlay anyway, and hopefully just an interim measure, until Sony issue a 24 Bit remastered set.

[Barbirollians]

I don't actually have a Karajan Brahms set, but should I decide on one, which set of HvK's to choose?

A good question not yet answered.