BaL 22.09.12 - Brahms: A German Requiem

**ferneyhoughgeliebte** · 22-09-12, 10:05

Originally posted by aeolium View Post

It was a pity that there were no extracts from the excellent Klemperer version

There was an excerpt from Klemperer's second movement, chosen particularly to illustrate the snarling Horn parts - just before he went on to enthuse about the Celibidache "Historic" recording.

**Barbirollians** · 22-09-12, 11:12

Sounds like this was a good day to have a lie in .

**Dave2002** · 22-09-12, 11:22

Originally posted by ferneyhoughgeliebte View Post

Such a pity Karajan never recorded this work.

Er ...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Brahms-Deuts...8312626&sr=1-1 or am I missing a joke? There's also a DVD, and there may be other recorded performances.

Re the piano version I think it's perfectly valid, and deserves to be mentioned, and recordings pointed out if they're good.

I've not listened to that part of CD Review yet, so will have to check with my PVR recording or iPlayer, though I did hear a very extended section about piano music. May have been interesting, but seemed to go on for ever, to me.

**LeMartinPecheur** · 22-09-12, 11:22

Had a quick look for the chosen Sawallisch recording on Amazon - looks like you need to get in quick to catch it for under £15!

**Barbirollians** · 22-09-12, 11:27

Originally posted by Dave2002 View Post

Er ...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Brahms-Deuts...8312626&sr=1-1 or am I missing a joke? There's also a DVD, and there may be other recorded performances.

Re the piano version I think it's perfectly valid, and deserves to be mentioned, and recordings pointed out if they're good.

I've not listened to that part of CD Review yet, so will have to check with my PVR recording or iPlayer, though I did hear a very extended section about piano music. May have been interesting, but seemed to go on for ever, to me.

FHg is drawing attention to his failure to mention any of Karajan's versions in particular the legendary 1947 recording .

Which Sawallisch did he choose - there appear to be an Orfeo and a Phillips version.

**Dave2002** · 22-09-12, 11:38

Originally posted by Barbirollians View Post

FHg is drawing attention to his failure to mention any of Karajan's versions in particular the legendary 1947 recording .

Which Sawallisch did he choose - there appear to be an Orfeo and a Phillips version.

Thanks, Barbirollians.

There is also this - http://www.classicstoday.com/review/review-10377/

**LeMartinPecheur** · 22-09-12, 12:04

Originally posted by Barbirollians View Post

FHg is drawing attention to his failure to mention any of Karajan's versions in particular the legendary 1947 recording .

Which Sawallisch did he choose - there appear to be an Orfeo and a Phillips version.

The Orfeo with Margaret Price and Sir Thomas Allen.

**ferneyhoughgeliebte** · 22-09-12, 12:13

Originally posted by Dave2002 View Post

Thanks, Barbirollians.

There is also this - http://www.classicstoday.com/review/review-10377/

Yes; apologies, Dave.

**gurnemanz** · 22-09-12, 13:11

I have Klemperer and Herreweghe and normally two versions of a work are enough for me but I do love this work and was definitely up for a recommendation. I may well have gone for the Sawallisch on Orfeo. Inhibiting factors are that it is a work in which, much though I love Thomas Allen and Margaret Price, I prefer the authenticity of German native speakers as soloists and that the first alternative review I read was decidedly lukewarm. In Gramophone Trevor Harvey was critical of conductor, orchestra, chorus, both soloists and recording. It is enough to make me hold back.

Page not found - Gramophone

http://www.gramophone.net/Issue/Page/June%201984/62/779969/Thomas+Allen+%5Bphoto+EMIWilson+BRAHMS.+Em+n+deutsches+Requiem%2C+Op.+45.+Variations+on+a+Theme+by+Haydn%2C+Op.+56a%2C+St+Antoni.+%E2%80%A2Margaret+Price+%28sop%29+Thomas+Allen+%28bar%29+%E2%80%A2Bavarian+Radio+Chorus+Chamber+Chorus+of+the+Munich+Hoch+schule+Bavarian+Radio+Symphony+Orches+tra++Wolfgang+Sawallisch.+OrfeoHarmonia+Mundi+digital+C%29+S039842+%28two+records%2C+nas%29.+fin+deutsches+Requiem%E2%80%94selected+comparisons%3A#header-logo

**Barbirollians** · 22-09-12, 13:39

Originally posted by Dave2002 View Post

Thanks, Barbirollians.

There is also this - http://www.classicstoday.com/review/review-10377/

Here is the original Gramophone review by Alec Robertson- with which i concur . Classics today is not a site where I find the reviewing reliable at all . Mr Hurwitz is one of those reviewers with whom i appear to hold diametrically opposed opinions. Mr Davis I feel joins him.

Page not found - Gramophone

http://www.gramophone.net/Issue/Page/April%201948/20/770504/BRAHMS+REQUIEM+Brahms+German+Requiem%2C+op.+4.+Hans+Hotter+%28baritone%29%2C+Elisabeth+Schwarzkogf+%28soprano%29+Singverein+der+Gesellschaft+der+Musik+Freunde+in+Wien%2C+with+Vienna+Philharmonic+Orchestra+%28von+Karajan%29.+Sung+in+German.+Columbia+LXi0556+%28ia+in..+795.+7d.%29.+Auto.+LX85958604.#header-logo

And here is Richard Osborne's view in 1990 .

Page not found - Gramophone

http://www.gramophone.net/Issue/Page/January%201990/107/832197/BRAHMS.+Ein+deutsches+Requiem%2C+Op.+45.+Elise+%C2%AE+bath+Schwarzkopf+%28sop%29+Hans+Hotter+%28bassbar%29+Vienna+Singverein+Vienna+Philhar+monic+Orchestra++Herbert+von+Karajan.+EMI+References+mono+%C2%AE+%281%29+CD+H7+61+01+02+%2875+minutes%3A+ADD%29.+From+Columbia+LX105564+%284+48%29.

**ferneyhoughgeliebte** · 22-09-12, 14:03

Thanks for this, Barbs: the Reference CD re-issue that Richard Osborne reviews is the one that I own and mentioned in #4. With a final mention of how beyond my comprehension it is that this performance could credibly be omitted from a discussion of this glorious work (even if the reviewer only "disses" it), I shall bow out of this Thread.

**Dave2002** · 22-09-12, 14:30

Sorry if I pointed at an unreasonable review of one of Karajan's recordings. I was more concerned to show the existence of the recording than comment on the quality of the performance.

**vinteuil** · 22-09-12, 14:45

... I enjoyed this BAL.

On the strength of it, I am ordering the Celibidache with Hotter; and the Klemperer (which I was surprised to find I didn't have). Curiously I was not much tempted by Sawallisch, his top recommendation.

I still enjoy the 1990 Gardiner, the Karajans of 1947 and and 1985, Previn 1987, Equilbey/Accentus, and Norrington.
I also very much enjoy Brahms's four hand piano version - Silke-Thora Matthies and Christian Köhn on naxos

**LeMartinPecheur** · 22-09-12, 15:43

Originally posted by gurnemanz View Post

I have Klemperer and Herreweghe and normally two versions of a work are enough for me but I do love this work and was definitely up for a recommendation. I may well have gone for the Sawallisch on Orfeo. Inhibiting factors are that it is a work in which, much though I love Thomas Allen and Margaret Price, I prefer the authenticity of German native speakers as soloists and that the first alternative review I read was decidedly lukewarm. In Gramophone Trevor Harvey was critical of conductor, orchestra, chorus, both soloists and recording. It is enough to make me hold back.
http://www.gramophone.net/Issue/Page...3A#header-logo

Hmm. I always found TH very dependable on Schubert recordings: I bought the ones he didn't like and avoided anything he recommended! If memory serves, he had a rather 'Lilac Time' view of the composer: any performance that got tense, gritty, passionate he seemed to condemn as un-Schubertian

**Black Swan** · 22-09-12, 16:30

Now up to £17, I think I can wait or look at an alternative.

John

BaL 22.09.12 - Brahms: A German Requiem

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