VPO Brahms Cycles

[richardfinegold]

I have realized that I don’t have any Brahms recordings featuring the VPO dating later than Furtwangler. I’d like to rectify this and was perusing the cycles available and I don’t think I know any of them. I’m listening to Bernstein on Qobuz currently but I am looking for comments on the others.
Barbiroli
Bohm
Bernstein
Giulini
Kertesz
Kubelik
Levine

Thoughts?

[Alison]

Apparently Haitink recorded a Brahms cycle in Vienna which has never been issued.

I hope it’s still in the vaults somewhere.

[Petrushka]

Apparently Haitink recorded a Brahms cycle in Vienna which has never been issued.

I hope it’s still in the vaults somewhere.

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.

[jayne lee wilson]

I have several favourite Brahms cycles.... sadly, none of them in Vienna....

[richardfinegold]

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.

Right, I am specifically interested here in Brahms as played by the VPO. Karajan would have been nice. I have Kubelik with the Bavarians and would prefer someone else. Pace JLW, I am not expecting this to become a prefered cycle, and it’s too bad if there is a missing Haitink in there somewhere. Barbiroli got a terrible review that I dredged up, Bohm might be a safe choice, Giulini did an interminable B1 from Los Angeles. I also don’t have any Abrams by Bernstein so perhaps I will check off two boxes here

[verismissimo]

Gosh! A new thread!

The Carlos Kleiber Brahms 4 with VPO is very special. And there seems to be a No 2 which I've not heard.

[LHC]

Bernstein's cycle with the VPO is very slow and self indulgent, but they play magnificently for him and sound gorgeous, so if you primarily want the cycle for the VPO sound, rather than the interpretation, it might be worth considering.

[Barbirollians]

Don't the VPO record with living conductors any more?

Recent Beethoven cycle with Nelsons.

I am very fond of the Kertesz VPO Fourth as that is how I got to know the work from a Decca Jubilee cassette- agree about the VPO/Kleiber 4 which is excellent . I like the VPO/Barbirolli 3rd a lot and the 2 and 4 it is 1 I find a bit slow.

[mikealdren]

Don't the VPO record with living conductors any more?

They've only ever recorded with living conductors!

[richardfinegold]

Bernstein's cycle with the VPO is very slow and self indulgent, but they play magnificently for him and sound gorgeous, so if you primarily want the cycle for the VPO sound, rather than the interpretation, it might be worth considering.

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

[HighlandDougie]

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

Although I'm not sure that the "VPO sound" isn't better suited to Bruckner rather than Brahms, the Kertesz cycle is worth investigating. The Kubelik is a bit ancient, recording-wise, and one gets the impression that the conductor never entirely got the measure of a notoriously difficult orchestra.

[jayne lee wilson]

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.

Some Karajan VPO Brahms here including Japanese issues........

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

Check out Orfeo Salzburg issues for other VPO Brahms....

[Alison]

They've only ever recorded with living conductors!

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.

It was Roehre, once of this parish, who informed me. A great loss to the forum.

Apparently Philips also recorded L’enfant et les sortilèges.

[johnb]

The Kubelik is a bit ancient, recording-wise, and one gets the impression that the conductor never entirely got the measure of a notoriously difficult orchestra.

Many years ago Lady Barbirolli (Evelyn Rothwell) was interviews on R3 as part of programme on Barbirolli. She told of how JB was unhappy with the cellists that they had sent along for the rehearsal. During a break in the rehearsal, when the musicians had left the hall/stage/room, JB picked up one of the cellos and started to play. Whereupon one of the VPO management said something like "I'm sorry, I'll make sure you have better cellists in future and in the performance.

[jayne lee wilson]

Maybe try Harnoncourt in the Requiem...?

https://www.qobuz.com/gb-en/album/johannes-brahms-ein-deutsches-requiem-wiener-philharmoniker-nikolaus-harnoncourt/0884977600445