Brahms Violin Concerto

[Barbirollians]

Slightly OT, but it was mentioned during a BBC World Service feature re. the late Prof. Stephen Hawking this morning, that the Brahms Violin Concerto was a favourite work of his. It was also one of his Desert Island discs (David Oistrakh), though the Mozart (et al) Requiem was his stand-alone.

Which Oistrakh recording ?

Realised that was lazy of me so looked it up - the Klemperer - good choice .

[pastoralguy]

Which Oistrakh recording ?

Realised that was lazy of me so looked it up - the Klemperer - good choice .

Oistrakh's recording with Szell and the Cleveland Orchestra was marred by a sub-standard recording that made the soloist sound harsh and too far forward. Furthermore, there was considerable distortion at any volume above mezzo forte. I had the Lp which emphasised these faults and was disappointed when the cd transfer showed the same problems. It was eventually released on EMI's SACD format but, alas, the problems were, if anything, even more pronounced. Goodness knows how these deficiencies weren't obvious at the time.

[Barbirollians]

Oistrakh's recording with Szell and the Cleveland Orchestra was marred by a sub-standard recording that made the soloist sound harsh and too far forward. Furthermore, there was considerable distortion at any volume above mezzo forte. I had the Lp which emphasised these faults and was disappointed when the cd transfer showed the same problems. It was eventually released on EMI's SACD format but, alas, the problems were, if anything, even more pronounced. Goodness knows how these deficiencies weren't obvious at the time.

Yes I have it somewhere in the GROC transfer and found it wearing . Oddly, the same faults do not seem to affect the Oistrakh/Rostropovich Brahms Double which was made around the same time and with which the Violin Concerto was originally released in a 2 LP set.

[Tony Halstead]

I think that rather understates his ability. Boult’s discography abounds with performances of blazing excitement and emotion belying his appearance as a dapper little man with a moustache.

His live recordings have just underlined this the ICA Classics coupling of Brahms 3 and Elgar 1 for a start.

'Dapper LITTLE man?'
Good grief, he was about 6'3" as I remember...

[Barbirollians]

'Dapper LITTLE man?'
Good grief, he was about 6'3" as I remember...

Record covers can be so misleading !

[richardfinegold]

Oistrakh's recording with Szell and the Cleveland Orchestra was marred by a sub-standard recording that made the soloist sound harsh and too far forward. Furthermore, there was considerable distortion at any volume above mezzo forte. I had the Lp which emphasised these faults and was disappointed when the cd transfer showed the same problems. It was eventually released on EMI's SACD format but, alas, the problems were, if anything, even more pronounced. Goodness knows how these deficiencies weren't obvious at the time.

Szell was known for his interventionist methods at the mixing console. Many Szell recordings from Columbia/Epic were reissued on CD from the original tapes before Szell altered them and IMO sound much better than their lp incarnations. Perhaps EMI didn't retain a tape that is sans Conductor intervention.

[verismissimo]

Bought this after seeing your recommendation. Mightily impressed with her playing, tone, intonation, everything, and beautifully recorded. The Stravinsky coupling is pretty impressive too. Thankyou.

Good summary Lordgeous! Hahn's best recording/performance of all is IMO the Schoenberg. Yes really!

[Barbirollians]

Good summary Lordgeous! Hahn's best recording/performance of all is IMO the Schoenberg. Yes really!

That is excellent but I think her best record is the coupling of the Beethoven violin Concerto and the Bernstein Serenade - so much light and air into both works.

[Lordgeous]

Thanks guys. Have just ordered both. I see a 3CD set of hers on Amazon (used) costs £279! Is this a record? (Yes, I know, its a CD!).

[Bryn]

Having ordered the 'RCA' Monteux box, today I was advised of the forthcoming release of a 44 CD box of Sxeryng's Philips, Mercury and DGG recordings. The lowest 'pre-order' price appears to ve that from HMV online (£79.99 with free p&p).



This new set will include his Haitink and Dorati recordings of the Brahms concerto.

Full listing on the Presto Classical site.

Ddlivered about an hour ago (along with the Davitt Maroney Art of Fugue double album. THe Szeryng box is a little awkward in design. It would be all too easy to empty the contents on the floor if not very careful in opening it. The image below offers a thoroughly inacurate perspective. The top of the box has been rotated through 90° and 'draw' is much wider than suggested. The CD cases are also multicoured.

[Lordgeous]

What a discovery Hilary Hahn is (to me anyway). Her recordings are slowly filling up my CD racks. And on YouTube Ive been enjoying her unaccompanied Bach. Sounds nigh perfect to me.

[Barbirollians]

What a discovery Hilary Hahn is (to me anyway). Her recordings are slowly filling up my CD racks. And on YouTube Ive been enjoying her unaccompanied Bach. Sounds nigh perfect to me.

I agree that most of her recordings are outstanding -the two relative disappointments bring a rather uninvolved account of the Elgar with Colin Davis and her Bach concertos recording in which I found the tempi a bit extreme.

[pastoralguy]

I agree that most of her recordings are outstanding -the two relative disappointments bring a rather uninvolved account of the Elgar with Colin Davis and her Bach concertos recording in which I found the tempi a bit extreme.

I traveled to London to hear the performance prior to the recording and was a bit under-whelmed. To be honest, I was more impressed with Sir Colin and the LSO who played their socks off. Hilary was just a little uninvolved. (I'm a huge fan of her's nonetheless.).

[pastoralguy]

I took delivery of Arabella Steinbacher's live recording with Fabio Luisi and the Vienna Symphony Orchestra yesterday. (C/W Schumann's Fourth Symphony).

Absolutely fabulous playing!

[mikealdren]

I traveled to London to hear the performance prior to the recording and was a bit under-whelmed. To be honest, I was more impressed with Sir Colin and the LSO who played their socks off. Hilary was just a little uninvolved. (I'm a huge fan of her's nonetheless.).

Hi PG,
try the recording, HH can be visually very unemotional in live performance but she channels it all into the sound and (for me) her recording is superb. She has the sort of elegance and purity that was a hallmark Grumiaux and like him, she is less good in more overtly romantic concerti like the Elgar where I agree with Barbs.