BaL 13.04.24 - Brahms: Symphony 3

[oliver sudden]

Somehow I found it a bit bland, not really sure why. I much prefer the Chailly (and Norrington LCP, but don’t tell anyone!)

Big fan of LCP/Norrington here. For me that series started well and just got better.

[RobP]

I am just going to listen to the 1954 Furtwangler.

I'm not a big Furtwangler fan, but there is a superb 1948 BPO Third on Pristine, where he observes the first movement expo repeat (which apparently he didn't always do). For me the repeat is vital, given the movements brevity, if that wasn't the case then Mravinsky and Monteux and the BSO in Edinburgh (ICA) would be front-runners. However Toscanini in December 42 (M&A) and with the Philharmonia (Pristine) are great, as are Klemperer's hewn out of granite Philharmonia (Warner) and 1962 (Pristine) versions.

[RobP]

I'm not a big Furtwangler fan, but there is a superb 1948 BPO Third on Pristine, where he observes the first movement expo repeat (which apparently he didn't always do). For me the repeat is vital, given the movements brevity, if that wasn't the case then Mravinsky and Monteux and the BSO in Edinburgh (ICA) would be front-runners. However Toscanini in December 42 (M&A) and with the Philharmonia (Pristine) are great, as are Klemperer's hewn out of granite Philharmonia (Warner) and 1962 (Pristine) versions.

Sorry, Klemperer with the Philadelphia

[Alison]

Do you value it, Alison? I had the box, but didn't keep it, as far as I remember because they just weren't memorable performances (I'm a Rattle enthusiast normally)

No not really, rather heavy going I found. I see RO preferred the First and Third to the Second and Fourth but was fairly cool overall. Rave reviews elsewhere are hazily recalled and not justified IMHO.

[Barbirollians]

I never bought the Rattle set . There was something about some of his BPO recordings that were a bit Rolls Royce smooth for me and I was not tempted to buy any more of them. That raved about Mahler 5 for example doesn’t do much for me.

[EnemyoftheStoat]

Big fan of LCP/Norrington here. For me that series started well and just got better.

Your enthusiasm is shared here. I gave this recording a first listening today and it should be very high on the list of recommendations for anyone who wants to know this work.

[Pulcinella]

Here's a link to a Gramophone survey (found trying to help Sir Velo in his hunt for a Levine review):

https://www.gramophone.co.uk/features/article/brahms-s-symphony-no-3-a-guide-to-the-best-recordings

[Sir Velo]

Thanks Pulcinella. RO as ever entertaining.and prepared to demolish some sacred cows.. The Levine VPO is conspicuous by its absence (though the Chicago offering is given some consideration before being dismissed as a fairly unmemorable "remake" of Toscanini's 1952 RCA recording.

[vinteuil]

Big fan of LCP/Norrington here. For me that series started well and just got better.

... another fan here -

.
... the first one that made me appreciate / enjoy this work was Norrington / London Classical Players ; since then I have also come to enjoy Mackerras with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Manze, and Venzago, Walter &c ...

[Wolfram]

Just picked up Kurt Sanderling’s Dresden recording in a charity shop in Bury St Edmunds. Slightly slowish first movement but with clear and open textures and played with such genuine charm and affection. The last movement works up a real head of steam and the closing bars are balanced to perfection. All of Sanderling’s Brahms symphonies were in the shop on the three disks in the RCA Navigator series. I bought two of the disks, symphonies 1, 2 and 3, but left the disk with the 4th symphony in the shop, as I already had that. This made me sad, as this was obviously part of someone’s collection, and to break it up made me feel more than a little regretful.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Big fan of LCP/Norrington here. For me that series started well and just got better.

Not so keen on Norrington myself, preferring the JEG, as he uses natural horns, which is what Brahms wrote for in the score. Norrington's "logic" was that they didn't use natural horns in Brahms's time, which I think is rather a weak argument. Brahms himself learnt to play on a natural horn, and clearly knew what he was doing, when indicating which crooks to use and when to change them.

[Ein Heldenleben]

So far Weingartner , Walter with Columbia Symphony and Boult LSO.

All superb but Walter really stands out that rit. Into the second theme ..extraordinary.

[Ein Heldenleben]

A brief summary of an excellent BAL

1st movt
Weingartner
Walter CSO I loved this
Boult LSO
Chailly Leipzig - early recommendation
Klemperer
Guilini “doesn’t take flight” Nigel S
Jochum LPO wonderful

2nd movt
Blomstedt Leipzig (v good w’wind)
Jacob Hruša Bamberg
Walter CSO - lovely strings imv (and Andrew’s) - “moving” (NS)

3rd movt
Mackerras SCO fluidity- chamber orchestra size
Klemperer Philharmonia - beautifully done

Also mentioned only Kempe
Szell ,Karajan , Manze , Zinman

Finalists for 4th movt

Boult LSO - deep rooted performance tradition

Jochum LPO WINNER
on the basis of the clips I’m not surprised.

Chailly Leipzig GWH Orchestra “boundless vitality “

[Pulcinella]

Website not yet updated, but I'll edit this post if/when it is!
(Otherwise engaged, so didn't get to listen.)

Website now (and new post made):

Recommended Version:
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Eugen Jochum (conductor)
Warner Classics 5695152

[edashtav]

What a wonderful symphony: my father's favourite. My last live performance was Rattle and the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra which was silken but lacked grit and nobility.
Nigel Simeone was our learned Judge and he captured the spirit of Brahms' music well and characterised the virtues of the better interpretations with clarity and accuracy. Andrew gave Nigel his head whilst dealing with the necessary mundanities.
It was like a Grand National with so many falling at the first fence- the work's opening bars. I agree with other commentators who appreciate the importance of repeating the exposition of the first movement.

A splendid BaL.