I know we have just had Brahms 3 but I felt compelled to add this by listening to a very recent cheap second-hand purchase of Walter's Columbia SO recording of the work . As much as I like the NYPO version there is a terrific sweep and warmth to this performance - that puts it up with Boult's late HMV recording at the top for me . What immense pleasure there is to be gained from trawling the internet for second-hand copies going for pennies of great apparently deleted performances
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The first work by Brahms I ever got to know, courtesy of Loughran and the Hallé on CfP: and that recording is still among my very favourites (and one of the select few that includes the - essential - Exposition repeat). It's gently lyrical, with a clear awareness of the humour of the Symphony, which most others overlook; and it's vey well played and recorded - the best 84p I think I've ever spent!
Furtwangler hears it differently, and his VPO recording brings out the shadows (descending semitones on the Bass Trombones given miniscule "hairpin" cresc and dim that really disturb) so that the radiant final D major chord really shines. Of modern recordings, only Abbado's magnificent BPO reading matches this - and much better recorded sound, of course.
I'd be interested to hear any comments on HIPP and Chamber Orchestra performances.
Glorious work.[FONT=Comic Sans MS][I][B]Numquam Satis![/B][/I][/FONT] -
BPO Kempe - I know it's mono, but after all these years still tops my list, VPO Monteux just behind it !Comment
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I seem to have Jochum with the Berliners and Norrington with the London Classical Players.
I prefer the latter.Comment
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The LPO / Jurowski version is I think my favourite http://www.amazon.co.uk/Brahms-Symph...5910091&sr=8-1
Might seem an unlikely choice. But it also swept the board in the French CD critics' 'blind tasting' "Tribune" on France-Musique, leaving Karajan, Abbado, Rattle (all BPO), Kertesz and Gardiner miles behind."...the isle is full of noises,
Sounds and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not.
Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments
Will hum about mine ears, and sometime voices..."
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Not heard the Jurowski which sounds interesting but of those so far mentioned I greatly like the Bruno Walter/CSO, Abbado and Furtwangler but my own personal favourite in this, the Brahms symphony that I found the most difficult, is Haitink and the LSO."The sound is the handwriting of the conductor" - Bernard HaitinkComment
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Jurowski's Brahms (in concert) is outstanding in my experience.
Just listening (again) to my first Second. An ancient Heliodor LP of Bohm with the BPO.
Seems to me to be a symphony with a multitude of good recordings.Comment
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VPO and Kertesz 1960s Decca. Superb in nearly every way, though there's something suspiciously like "wow" in the final.Comment
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The Jurowski sounds enticing . The release of this record appears to have passed me by . I have been very impressed by the two recordings by him I have - the recent Honegger CD and the justifiably lauded Mahler 2 .
As for Brahms 2 - I have obtained a great deal of pleasure from the Abbado, Loughran and Furtwangler recordings referred to above as well as the Boult .Comment
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Old but very sprightly: Dorati/Minneapolis SO, Klemperer/Philharmonia
Warm and gorgeous: Ancerl/Czech PO
Revisionist: Harnoncourt/Berlin Phil, Berglund/COE
Latest news: Manze/Norrkoping SO - if you don't want the complete cycle, the Manze Brahms symphonies can be downloaded separately (24-bit or lossless) from eClassical.com.
One point of interest is that many older recordings like Klemperer and Dorati omit the lengthy first movement repeat, most recent ones observe it, which does affect the structural balance of the whole significantly. (Or try your patience...)Comment
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Ancerl - sounds tempting . I had an old LP of No1 which I did enjoy for the very reasons you describe to his No 2 but someone borrowed it in the mists of time and I never saw it again .Comment
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I agree - I see it's coupled with Suk/Navarra Double Concerto which I had on an old Supraphon LP many years ago. The Ancerl recordings I have are without exception very good eg Mahler 1, Dvorak VC/Romance with Suk!Originally posted by Barbirollians View PostComment
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I agree entirely - Walter/Columbia and Boult. There's a TV programme of Walter rehearing this symphony with a Canadian (youth?) orchestra, which I believe has been on dvd before, but I can't find the details.Originally posted by Barbirollians View Post
[Edit]: This is it, but I see it's out of stock: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Brahms-Great...030220&sr=1-10.
But this seems to be the same programme, and it is available: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bruno-Walter...6031250&sr=1-1]Last edited by Pabmusic; 27-08-12, 01:38.Comment
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Strongly seconded, although I'm not sure if the Kempe is still available on CD other than as part of a Testament set of all four. I have it in its HMV Concert Classics incarnation. I'd add Chailly/Concertgebouw to the list of modern alternatives (and highly recommend the Suk/Navarra Brahms Double Concerto - still my favourite recording)Originally posted by cloughie View PostComment
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To whet your appetite, a clip from this video ...Originally posted by Pabmusic View Post
At about 3'40" Walter offers a technical solution which is both quite surprising and wonderfully humane
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