Brahms Violin Concerto

[mikealdren]

IIRC Interpretation on Record covered the Brahms in about 1970. They chose the Kreisler with Oistrakh/Konwitschny as a runner up.

Just found it on Genome, apparently it was discussed by no less than Ida Haendel and broadcast in 1969 and 1970, it would be great to hear it again!

[pastoralguy]

My introduction to the Brahms Violin Concerto was the Maurice Hasson recording with Loughran and the Hálle on CfP. I think it was probably the least successful of that marvellous series of recordings from Manchester since I was a bit underwhelmed by the work and the performance. Re-hearing it recently on cd didn't change my opinion. It wasn't until I heard the Mutter/Karajan/Berliner Philharmoniker recording that I realised what a marvellous work it was.

[Pulcinella]

Yes - my favourite of his Concertos.

There's no accounting for some people.

This sort of thing happens: I think of such works as things to look forward to when they eventually "click".

A dear late friend told me that about the Missa solemnis. Perhaps to my shame, I've never tested the principle, as it's a piece I steer well clear of.

[cloughie]

Try Milstein/Steinberg

Or indeed Milstein/Jochum Or Milstein/Fistoulari

[Dave2002]

Yes - my favourite of his Concertos.

I've always very much liked Suk/Navarra with Ancerl in the double concerto.

No sign of Suk every having recorded Brahms' violin concerto, though - https://www.discogs.com/artist/835073-Josef-Suk

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I've always very much liked Suk/Navarra with Ancerl in the double concerto.

No sign of Suk every having recorded Brahms' violin concerto, though - https://www.discogs.com/artist/835073-Josef-Suk

That is peculiar, considering Suk's splendid recordings of Brahms' chamber Music with Katchen, and that splendid Double Concerto.

[verismissimo]

It seems to me that all the boys and girls that I've heard in this concerto over the years play with more, and more continuous, vibrato than Joachim would have done, including Kreisler in 1936 and Hahn in 2001 (the two that I've listened to this afternoon).

Are there exceptions? Szigeti in 1924?

[muzzer]

I’ve seen ASM play the Brahms and it was out of this world, frankly, real once in a lifetime stuff. She of course has performed it innumerable times. Nuff said.

[AmpH]

For me, none have yet eclipsed Szeryng/LSO/Monteux. Strangely this is both hard to find and very expensive on CD.

Looks like this is available in this rather inviting little Monteux box.

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8431038--pierre-monteux-the-complete-rca-stereo-recordings

[richardfinegold]

For me, none have yet eclipsed Szeryng/LSO/Monteux. Strangely this is both hard to find and very expensive on CD.

https://d27t0qkxhe4r68.cloudfront.net/t_900/A10301A00038512959.jpg?1524739180

Now available for about $20 as part of a large Monteux box from Sony, which also contains another version of the Brahms VC with Kogan, which is my personal favorite

[vinteuil]

https://d27t0qkxhe4r68.cloudfront.ne...jpg?1524739180
Now available for about $20 as part of a large Monteux box from Sony, which also contains another version of the Brahms VC with Kogan, which is my personal favorite

... que voici :

http://amzn.eu/d/3Ob1dfY

[verismissimo]

It seems to me that all the boys and girls that I've heard in this concerto over the years play with more, and more continuous, vibrato than Joachim would have done, including Kreisler in 1936 and Hahn in 2001 (the two that I've listened to this afternoon).

Are there exceptions? Szigeti in 1924?

Not to be misunderstood: the Hilary Hahn/ASMF/Marriner recording is absolutely outstanding IMO.

[mikealdren]

Totally agree.

Mike

[Bryn]

Looks like this is available in this rather inviting little Monteux box.

https://www.prestomusic.com/classica...reo-recordings

Thanks. Duly ordered (£16.17 including p&p) from an Amazon marketplace vendor.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Try Milstein/Steinberg

There's a Milstein/Pittsburgh/Steinberg recording available on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_9UZrBnpcA

... which I listened to a couple of times as a result of this nudge. I wasn't as impressed as I wanted to be - the fierce sound is almost certainly YouTube's fault, but the unpleasant oboe intonation in the first Movement certainly isn't, nor, I think is the over-prominent soloist - and I found myself getting tired of Milstein's "one size fits all" vibrato (the sort of thing verissm mentions - perfect in the Tchaikovsky, not what I want to experience all the time in Brahms). Some very good conducting, it has to be said - and Milstein's intonation is to die for!

Going through the recordings I own, the Mutter/BPO/Karajan struck me as by some distance the best overall - I'd completely forgotten how marvellous this is; soloist, orchestra, conductor, and recording team all at the top of their game ... and she was only 18 when this recording was made!!!!