VPO Brahms Cycles

[Dave2002]

Having listened to substantial sections of the Bernstein set, I’m inclined to agree, although it has its moments.
Probably no more listening today, we need to monitor the riots in Chicago

Sorry to hear about the riots, though we have had protests in a few cities here.

We’re well away from those, but watching the string final of the BBC Young Musicians competition. Can you see that where you are? Not sure I can comment on the VPO in Brahms, though I’ve heard them live in other works, and in quite a number of other recordings.

[cloughie]

I never knew that, Alison. Was he dissatisfied with it? The Boston SO cycle of the symphonies is a great favourite of mine but I share your hope that the VPO recordings are still in the vaults and see the light of day.

There aren't as many VPO Brahms cycles as I'd thought there would be. I have Barbirolli, excellent in 1 & 2, a little too slow in 3 & 4 but the 1960s vintage VPO play like angels for him. I also have Kubelik and Böhm. Kubelik's is more fleet of foot than Böhm and is in mono but it's a joy to hear the VPO in Brahms whoever is on the podium. Pity Karajan didn't quite get there.

Kubelik is stereo - albeit early Decca stereo - the CD transfers may not compare with later recordings but are very much better than the Ace of Diamonds LPs I had! Kertesz’ recordings of 1/3/4 were some of his last recordings - indeed the HV coupling was completed by the orchestra after his tragic death.

[Petrushka]

Kubelik is stereo - albeit early Decca stereo - the CD transfers may not compare with later recordings but are very much better than the Ace of Diamonds LPs I had! Kertesz’ recordings of 1/3/4 were some of his last recordings - indeed the HV coupling was completed by the orchestra after his tragic death.

Apologies, I've just checked my copy of the VPO/Kubelik and it is indeed in stereo. There are VPO/Karajan recordings of 1, 2 & 3 but I can't find a 4th.

[richardfinegold]

Apologies, I've just checked my copy of the VPO/Kubelik and it is indeed in stereo. There are VPO/Karajan recordings of 1, 2 & 3 but I can't find a 4th.

I didn’t realize that there were Von K recordings of 1-3 with the VPO. Perhaps the contents are buried in one of those mega boxes?

[richardfinegold]

Sorry to hear about the riots, though we have had protests in a few cities here.

We’re well away from those, but watching the string final of the BBC Young Musicians competition. Can you see that where you are? Not sure I can comment on the VPO in Brahms, though I’ve heard them live in other works, and in quite a number of other recordings.

Well, the wife and I work in heavily minority inhabited areas, and many parts of the city are closed down, so even getting to work will be a challange and hopefully not landing in. The middle of a riot. Takes the mind off catching the virus from a patient, however

[bluestateprommer]

Apparently Haitink recorded a Brahms cycle in Vienna which has never been issued. I hope it’s still in the vaults somewhere.

Interesting to hear; where did you get this information? I ask because, at the risk of rubbing the wrong way, I had a look at the VPO's concert archive for Haitink conducting Brahms with the VPO. Of those 9 concerts, none of them featured any of the Brahms symphonies. So I wonder why such recordings would have been made, not tied to concerts. (FWIW, BH didn't conduct many Beethoven symphonies with the VPO either.)

Granted, the VPO recorded a full Sibelius symphony cycle for Decca with Maazel, and Maazel only conducted 2 of the Sibelius symphonies during the 1960's with the VPO in concert (1 and 5). So it is not beyond the realm of possibility that the VPO would record with Haitink "in the studio", not tied to concerts. But, IMHO, it would seem odd.

[akiralx]

I do know that my favourite B3 is VPO/Levine, superbly done especially the finale, played with real fire. I only have that and the First from the cycle.

I am quite fond of the VPO/Bohm B2 as well.

There is also an old Abbado recording of B1 from his multi-orchestra cycle, which I have on a Japanese CD reissue (not as good as his later BPO set).

[vibratoforever]

When recording three of the symphonies in December 1967, Barbirolli gave a concert with the VPO which included the 4th, as well as Mozart's Linz. Comparing the live 4th to the studio recording showed the usual result, a swifter performance and ultimately more convincing. The Linz is available on Youtube

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

They've only ever recorded with living conductors!

Not quite true. Kertesz died before Decca had completed his VPO recording of Brahms’s St Antony Variations, so the orchestra recorded the final variation without the conductor.

[cloughie]

I didn’t realize that there were Von K recordings of 1-3 with the VPO. Perhaps the contents are buried in one of those mega boxes?

1 & 3 were Decca recordings c1960 and 2 an early recording (late 40s?) on EMI!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Looking at my Brahms symphony recordings, they’re almost all VPO recordings: Bernstein, Barbirolli, Abbado, Kertesz, Furtwangler, C Kleiber, Levine, Giulini.
M

[BBMmk2]

I do know that my favourite B3 is VPO/Levine, superbly done especially the finale, played with real fire. I only have that and the First from the cycle.

I am quite fond of the VPO/Bohm B2 as well.

There is also an old Abbado recording of B1 from his multi-orchestra cycle, which I have on a Japanese CD reissue (not as good as his later BPO set).

Claudio Abbado’s recording is worth considering.

[jayne lee wilson]

I didn’t realize that there were Von K recordings of 1-3 with the VPO. Perhaps the contents are buried in one of those mega boxes?

I posted the link to them in #13...(not that long ago....!...scroll up people, as well as down...)...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=brahms+symphonies+vienna+philharmonic+karajan&i=popular&ref=nb_sb_noss

Japanese Deccas of 1 & 3, sundry EMIs for the early 50s 2nd, I guess the Regis 1st is the same as the Decca....
I can't help thinking you can do way better in this rep., but if it has to be the Wiener Philharmoniker, I guess it has to be....

***
So sad to see American cities up in flames, Richard....so, so unsettling to live with & through.... and the anger is so, so justified.... both US and UK are suffering terribly from poor leadership.....

I guess Brahms can help... the Requiem most of all, in the smoking, exhausted aftermath....

[LHC]

I posted the link to them in #13...(not that long ago....!)...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=brahms+symphonies+vienna+philharmonic+karajan&i=popular&ref=nb_sb_noss

Japanese Deccas of 1 & 3, sundry EMIs for the early 50s 2nd, I guess the Regis 1st is the same as the Decca....

The HVK Decca Brahms performances are also on the recently released Decca HVK big box set.

[Petrushka]

I do know that my favourite B3 is VPO/Levine, superbly done especially the finale, played with real fire. I only have that and the First from the cycle.

I am quite fond of the VPO/Bohm B2 as well.

There is also an old Abbado recording of B1 from his multi-orchestra cycle, which I have on a Japanese CD reissue (not as good as his later BPO set).

Have you got a link to this please? I can't find it.