BaL 1.06.13 - Brahms Symphony no 2 in D

[Petrushka]

Who started all this non repeating of repeats ? Name names.

You won't repeat it if I tell will you?

[EdgeleyRob]

Who started all this non repeating of repeats ? Name names.

Say again!

[Thropplenoggin]

I enjoy Stephen Johnson's mix of historical lineage and incisive commentary. He knows what he wants in a piece and, as EA knows only too well, has to get through many interpretations to whittle it down to one (or a few) in sometimes under 40 minutes.

I believe it was the philosophical dauphin of the zeitgeist, Kanye West, who said, "haters gonna hate". Dismiss at will, SJ!

[EnemyoftheStoat]

With all this talk opf the need or no need to repeat the exposition, well, imo, at times,I feelo, it's artisitc judement. Perhaps there are conductors around, who have superior musicality, than Brahms!?!!? There may, ofcourse be a time management factor involved as well??

If you haven't got enough time to do a Brahms symphony, don't bother, eh?

[Nick Armstrong]

Is this thread a record for posts and views on a BAL prior to transmission!? Nearly 100 replies and 2000 views and still more than 24 hours to go before the programme...

(Actually, I guess the record's held by a Mahler or a Wagner BAL, come to think of it...)

[mathias broucek]

How could anyone choose just one?!

Very excited about this but, yes, how can you choose a single library choice?

I've got about 20 or so recordings of Brahms 2. Favourites are Walter, Wand (the highlight of both cycles) Jochum/LPO an "unofficial" Carlos Kleiber and the extraordinary Celi/Munich which lets you hear more of Brahms's allegedly murky orchestration than you could imagine possible.

Has anyone got round to the Abbado in the big box?

[silvestrione]

an "unofficial" Carlos Kleiber

Is this your private off-air recording, or something 'unofficially' accessible somewhere?

[mathias broucek]

Is this your private off-air recording, or something 'unofficially' accessible somewhere?

Someone else's off-air recordings given a CD release!

This one is with the Bavarian State Orch (mono)

http://www.amazon.com/Kleiber-Conducts-Mozart-Symphonies-Beethoven/dp/B000W7P4KW/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1370007868&sr=8-5&keywords=kleiber+brahms+2

And this is with the Chicago SO. It's also in mono but this set was worth buying for an incendiary (stereo) Beethoven 5 and for hearing the insane combination of Kleiber, the CSO and Butterworth!

http://www.amazon.com/Kleiber-Conducts-Weber-Freischutz-Butterworth/dp/B00133RKDI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1370008484&sr=8-1&keywords=kleiber+brahms+2+chicago

These sets were far cheaper when I purchased them

TBH I find Kleiber's Brahms less interesting than his Beethoven, Schubert and Strauss. What I've never quite "got" is that, despite the "take daddy's repertoire" theory, Erich seems to have had little to do with Brahms (I have most of Erich's off-air recordings and I've never seen any Brahms symphonies).

[HighlandDougie]

the extraordinary Celi/Munich which lets you hear more of Brahms's allegedly murky orchestration than you could imagine possible.

Downloaded on MB's enthusiastic recommendation and a mainstay of the music on my i-Phone. Numerous journeys between Nice/London made all the more palatable by listening to this wonderful performance while watching the Alps and French countryside from 35,000 feet.

Has anyone got round to the Abbado in the big box?

And, second only to Celi, the other Brahms 2 on my phone, now duplicated via the big box. Wonderful playing by the BPO, as well as the music somehow sounding, err ...., just right.

[verismissimo]

I enjoy Stephen Johnson's mix of historical lineage and incisive commentary...

Poor man. He doesn't stand a chance hereabouts.

[Thropplenoggin]

Poor man. He doesn't stand a chance hereabouts.

I see you missed the rest of my quote off. I feel like I've been edited for the film poster for "Mama Mia!" - "thrilling" as opposed to "this would be thrilling if it wasn't such a steaming pile of old jobs"

Of course, it might help if you pointed out what your problem is with SJ. I don't have one, see. At least Alison gave me something to aim at.

[mathias broucek]

And, second only to Celi, the other Brahms 2 on my phone, now duplicated via the big box. Wonderful playing by the BPO, as well as the music somehow sounding, err ...., just right.

Thanks HD. You've inspired me to give this a spin and I like what I'm hearing. Lovely flexible tempi, clear textures, long phrases and sublime playing.

[Alison]

I see you missed the rest of my quote off. I feel like I've been edited for the film poster for "Mama Mia!" - "thrilling" as opposed to "this would be thrilling if it wasn't such a steaming pile of old jobs"

Of course, it might help if you pointed out what your problem is with SJ. I don't have one, see. At least Alison gave me something to aim at.

No problem with SJ's command of historical lineage and he clearly knows his scores. Not nearly so reliable on performance and interpretation.
The apparent constant need to find fresh angles can be a handicap. It's all a game of opinions of course.

[verismissimo]

I see you missed the rest of my quote off. I feel like I've been edited for the film poster for "Mama Mia!" - "thrilling" as opposed to "this would be thrilling if it wasn't such a steaming pile of old jobs"

Of course, it might help if you pointed out what your problem is with SJ. I don't have one, see. At least Alison gave me something to aim at.

No problem with SJ, Thropple. It's the boarders hereabouts that he'll have trouble with IMO.

[Thropplenoggin]

No problem with SJ, Thropple. It's the boarders hereabouts that he'll have trouble with IMO.

Aha! Mea culpa, mea maxima culpa, V. I'd misconstrued your meaning. I expect you're right. Keyboards will fume as spleen is vented. Should be fun to watch, eh?