Berliner Philharmoniker goes vinyl with the Brahms symphonies

[Stanfordian]

Some info here relevant to vinyl lovers.

On 18th November, the Berliner Philharmoniker and Sir Simon Rattle are to release a limited vinyl edition of the symphonies of Johannes Brahms on the orchestra’s own label, Berliner Philharmoniker Recordings. The recordings document a complete performance cycle of the works from September 2014 which was recorded at the Berlin Philharmonie using the direct-to-disc process. This process, in which the sound is cut directly into a master disc at the moment of performance, represents the best possible analogue recording quality and offers unique tonal authenticity. The recording will be released in an exclusive, high-quality edition on six vinyl records and is complemented by a comprehensive accompanying book. Corresponding to the year of Johannes Brahms’s birth, it is limited to 1833 copies worldwide and is available at www.berliner-philharmoniker-recordings.com and from selected retailers.

[Dave2002]

No LPs listed on that BPO site yet.

[richardfinegold]

6 lps for four symphonies?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

No LPs listed on that BPO site yet.

I couldn't find them on that site, either.

[Stanfordian]

No LPs listed on that BPO site yet.

Hiya Dave,

This is the press release I have posted. I'm just the messenger.

[Stanfordian]

I couldn't find them on that site, either.

Hiya ferney,

Currently the full details are only on the password protected press part of the site.

[Stanfordian]

6 lps for four symphonies?

Hiya richardfinegold,

I've checked and it is 6 LPs for 4 symphonies.

[Stanfordian]

The release of the limited vinyl edition recorded in the special direct-to-disc process by the Berliner Philharmoniker and Sir Simon Rattle: Johannes Brahms – Symphonies 1-4 on 18 November.

I hope this helps. Yes, it's 6 LPs for 4 symphonies:

I was told this:
"As this was recorded direct-to-disc in concert it was necessary to accept that on some of the discs's sides there is only one movement of one symphony. This was the only way to make sure that you always have enough time left on the blank disc to fit the music. Even one minute of music too many that would have exceeded the possible length of the disc would have made it useless. And as there is no way to change the content of the single disc side afterwards some of the sides only have one movement on them one just lives with some very short A- or B-sides."

Here are two videos which also might give you a good impression about the overall background and the production process:

Trailer about the making of of the vinyl edition:
https://youtu.be/vF1eGGVb8pE.

Olaf Maninger (Principal Cello and "master mind" behind the Digital Concert Hall, the label, etc.) about the vinyl edition:
https://youtu.be/Q8MzJI22F0I.


This is the listing for the Brahms LPs from the booklet:

Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 68
LP 1
A 1. Un poco sostenuto – Allegro
Master disc 181 · Rec. Date: 18.09.14
B 2. Andante sostenuto
Master disc 232 · Rec. Date: 23.09.14
LP 2
A 3. Un poco Allegretto e grazioso
4. Adagio – Più Andante –
Allegro non troppo, ma con brio
Master disc 233 · Rec. Date: 23.09.14
44 : 05
13 : 15
09 : 28
04 : 47
16 : 35

Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 73
LP 2
B 1. Allegro non troppo
Master disc 1901 · Rec. Date: 19.09.14
LP 3
A 2. Adagio non troppo –
L’istesso, ma grazioso
Master disc 242 · Rec. Date: 24.09.14
B 3. Allegretto grazioso
(quasi Andantino) –
Presto ma non assai – Tempo primo –
Presto ma non assai – Tempo primo
Master disc 193 · Rec. Date: 19.09.14
4. Allegro con spirito
39 : 44
15 : 05
09 : 52
05 : 27
09 : 20

Symphony No. 3 in F major, Op. 90
LP 4
A 1. Allegro con brio –
Un poco sostenuto – Tempo I
Master disc 251N* · Rec. Date: 25.09.14
B 2. Andante
Master disc 252 · Rec. Date: 25.09.14
LP 5
A 3. Poco allegretto
Master disc 253 · Rec. Date: 25.09.14
4. Allegro – Un poco sostenuto
* Master disc No. 251 had to be mastered from two backup
tapes. While it was thus not recorded Direct to Disc and
contains one cut, the production process was nonetheless
completely analogue.

Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98
LP 5
B 1. Allegro non troppo
Master disc 261 · Rec. Date: 26.09.14
LP 6
A 2. Andante moderato
Master disc 262 · Rec. Date: 26.09.14
B 3. Allegro giocoso –
Poco meno presto – Tempo I
Master disc 263 · Rec. Date: 26.09.14
4. Allegro energico e passionato –
Più allegro
40 : 44
12 : 58
11 : 39
06 : 10
09 : 57

[pastoralguy]

Many years ago, I had a wealthy friend who SWORE by vinyl! One evening, he gathered a few friends to hear his latest acquisition- the Brahms symphonies conducted by Bruno Walter and the Columbia Symphony Orchestra that had been cut to vinyl with one side to each movement played at 45rpm and had been sent from the USA. To say he had state of the art equipment would be an understatement! Anyone who spends £35k on a turntable has to be pretty series about sound quality!

After we had listened to the first movement of Symphony 4, someone suggested we do a side by side comparison with The commercially available cd. So, he cued up the cd and vinyl and played them simultaneously, swapping between medium. To be honest, I thought the vinyl had a little more depth of sound but hardly enough to justify spending £400 on the vinyl set. (As opposed to £8 for the cd. (I recently picked up the same CDs for £1 in a charity shop!))

All was going well until the climax of the movement when the Lp got stuck, playing the same bar over and over until he gave it a nudge. To give my friend his due, he saw the funny side but I couldn't help thinking he'd wasted £400!

[Stanfordian]

Many years ago, I had a wealthy friend who SWORE by vinyl! One evening, he gathered a few friends to hear his latest acquisition- the Brahms symphonies conducted by Bruno Walter and the Columbia Symphony Orchestra that had been cut to vinyl with one side to each movement played at 45rpm and had been sent from the USA. To say he had state of the art equipment would be an understatement! Anyone who spends £35k on a turntable has to be pretty series about sound quality!

After we had listened to the first movement of Symphony 4, someone suggested we do a side by side comparison with The commercially available cd. So, he cued up the cd and vinyl and played them simultaneously, swapping between medium. To be honest, I thought the vinyl had a little more depth of sound but hardly enough to justify spending £400 on the vinyl set. (As opposed to £8 for the cd. (I recently picked up the same CDs for £1 in a charity shop!))

All was going well until the climax of the movement when the Lp got stuck, playing the same bar over and over until he gave it a nudge. To give my friend his due, he saw the funny side but I couldn't help thinking he'd wasted £400!

Hiya PG,

Good story. A friend a few months ago had been listening to a super-dupa, top price hi-fi set-up with a turntable and he said it was the best example he knows of the law of diminishing returns. I won’t be getting the said Brahms set as I don’t do vinyl anymore. My interest is that I am fascinated in anything Berliner Philharmoniker related.

[pastoralguy]

Hiya PG,

My interest is that I am fascinated in anything Berliner Philharmoniker related.

Me too, Stanfordian! When I was learning German at high school our teacher asked the class what our interest in German was. "I want to play in the Berlin Philharmonic", I answered.

Then reality set in...:(

[Petrushka]

I won’t be getting the said Brahms set as I don’t do vinyl anymore. My interest is that I am fascinated in anything Berliner Philharmoniker related.

And there I think you have it. I'm sorry but I completely fail to see the point of this release which will no doubt come at a premium price. Is it meant as a status symbol for the wealthy? I greatly admire both Rattle and the BPO but it seems self-defeating to promote this sort of product. One thing is for sure, they won't be able to shift many such recordings once Petrenko takes over unless he is something ultra, ultra special and as he's hardly ever appeared with the BPO (and has even cancelled on them) the appointment continues to leave me puzzled.

[pastoralguy]

?... the appointment continues to leave me puzzled.

You and everyone else interested in the work of this wonderful ensemble!

[EdgeleyRob]

You and everyone else interested in the work of this wonderful ensemble!

Perhaps he's the man to do the George Lloyd symphonies,Simon is running out of time

[pastoralguy]

Perhaps he's the man to do the George Lloyd symphonies,Simon is running out of time

I know! If only those bloody lottery numbers would come up!