I have been listening to the above set of Brahms Symphonies for the past two weeks now. I have enjoyed Manze as a performer in Early Music but have not had a chance to experience him in any Romantic Music. I was intrigued by this set for a few reasons, but I was hoping that the combination of a smaller orchestra, some HIP influences, and the SACD technology would clarify and enliven some of Brahms textures and be a nice complement to the many other sets that I have.
In general my hopes have been fulfilled and this is a satisfying set. There are some tempo extremes here, and they aren't all on the quick side. The Second movement of the Second Symphony is taken at a very slow tempo, but there is a vitality to the phrasing and the rubato that
saves it from being ponderous. The outer movements of the the First are played at a brisk jog that is very exciting.
The relative lightness of the Orchestra is a for the most part a virtue, particularly in Symphonies 2 and 3, but sometimes their lack of heft is a drawback, as in most of the Fourth. The Haydn Variations and the Overtures are well played and overall I give this a big
In general my hopes have been fulfilled and this is a satisfying set. There are some tempo extremes here, and they aren't all on the quick side. The Second movement of the Second Symphony is taken at a very slow tempo, but there is a vitality to the phrasing and the rubato that
saves it from being ponderous. The outer movements of the the First are played at a brisk jog that is very exciting.
The relative lightness of the Orchestra is a for the most part a virtue, particularly in Symphonies 2 and 3, but sometimes their lack of heft is a drawback, as in most of the Fourth. The Haydn Variations and the Overtures are well played and overall I give this a big
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