Brahms Serenades Nos.1 & 2

[BBMmk2]

Ok boarders. Bbm on the trawl again!

This time Brahms's two magnificent serenades. Recently I have heard clips of the new Chailly recording. But I have also been looking at others and yes that Abbado twofer from DG has cropped up! I am just thinking of others, like the Mackerras for instance?

[jayne lee wilson]

SCO/Mackerras outstanding, with glorious Telarc sonics too! A real pet sounds album for me...

[pastoralguy]

The first serenade is a great favourite of mine, BBM. I discovered it through the wonderful Abaddo/Berlin Philharmonic on DG. (A super recording too).

I was lucky enough to get a pre-release copy of the new Chailly disc and have really enjoyed it even though it's very different to Abaddo's. (Abaddo's is very weighty and solid whereas Chailly is much lighter and faster). The other versions I have are MTT with the LSO and Haitink with the Concertgebouw. I've just bought the Mackerras/SCO disc but have not listened yet. (Too preoccupied with an orchestra already mentioned, a Finn and someone whose birthday is soon!)

I've always felt the serenades are very underrated works and wishes that certain maestri would pay more attention than making yet another recording of the symphonies! All the cds I've heard are very good. (IMHO!)

[makropulos]

SCO/Mackerras outstanding, with glorious Telarc sonics too! A real pet sounds album for me...

Agree 100% with Jayne - it's a glorious record.

Also worth investigating as alternatives: Kertesz/LSO on Decca and the brand new Chailly/Leipzig recording also on Decca (which I've yet to hear complete). I like Kertesz a lot, but Mackerras is my own favourite - he's more bucolic, has an ideally scaled orchestra and conducts with enormous affection as well as energy.

[Nick Armstrong]

Haitink with the Concertgebouw

Can't go wrong. The first one in particular is wonderful on this disc.

[BBMmk2]

Can't go wrong. The first one in particular is wonderful on this disc.

Had a look at that one, actually but the Mackerras does look tempting. I am trying my best not go get the Abbado!

[pastoralguy]

Had a look at that one, actually but the Mackerras does look tempting. I am trying my best not go get the Abbado!

Do not resist, BBM! It really is superb...

[Bryn]

SCO/Mackerras outstanding, with glorious Telarc sonics too! A real pet sounds album for me...

With you all the way re. the Mackerras. I also have a lot of time for the rather different Boult.

[pastoralguy]

Did Boult record the First serenade? I have an EMI Studio cd of the second work.

[Bryn]

Did Boult record the First serenade? I have an EMI Studio cd of the second work.

[pastoralguy]

Many thanks!

[Bryn]

The same double album was earlier issued as a Double fforté release. Both versions derive from the same digital remasterings.

[Tony Halstead]

Agree 100% with Jayne - it's a glorious record.

Also worth investigating as alternatives: Kertesz/LSO on Decca and the brand new Chailly/Leipzig recording also on Decca (which I've yet to hear complete). I like Kertesz a lot, but Mackerras is my own favourite - he's more bucolic, has an ideally scaled orchestra and conducts with enormous affection as well as energy.

Agreed that Kertesz/ LSO/ Decca is superb.

A more recent ( Serenade no.1) LSO recording is with Michael Tilson Thomas which although very fine in many ways, has a rather brutalised, very fast last movement.

I had a rather unfortunate 'incident' several years ago while conducting a 10-concert tour of Australia with one of their leading orchestras: near the end of the tour I suddenly developed an 'ear-worm' of the MTT recording and inexplicably (although I really don't like the MTT tempo) found myself conducting the last movement at that very hectic tempo.

After the concert I was 'roundly taken to task' by the orchestra's leader who said 'don't you dare spring that tempo on us again' ( or words to that effect!)
If she happens to read this, may I once again apologise - 16 years too late!

[pastoralguy]

Agreed that Kertesz/ LSO/ Decca is superb.

A more recent ( Serenade no.1) LSO recording is with Michael Tilson Thomas which although very fine in many ways, has a rather brutalised, very fast last movement.

I had a rather unfortunate 'incident' several years ago while conducting a 10-concert tour of Australia with one of their leading orchestras: near the end of the tour I suddenly developed an 'ear-worm' of the MTT recording and inexplicably (although I really don't like the MTT tempo) found myself conducting the last movement at that very hectic tempo.

After the concert I was 'roundly taken to task' by the orchestra's leader who said 'don't you dare spring that tempo on us again' ( or words to that effect!)
If she happens to read this, may I once again apologise - 16 years too late!

You mean you actually speak to those rude mechanicals?! I would have told her to tell her collegues that they should be practicing more in order to best respond to your muse. (As well as reminding them that musicians are ten a penny and can easily be replaced).

I think I would have emulated Beethoven and said 'and what do I care for your little fiddle...?!!!

Bloody cheek!

(Karajan spoke to his principal double bass only once in ten years! He had the measure of those guys!).

[Tony Halstead]

Thanks very much for your support, pastoralguy!
The fact is that this particular 'rude mechanical' was/ is a highly respected lady violinist who is a 'co-leader' of the orchestra in question ( the 'official' orchestra leader was playing the Dvorak violin concerto in these concerts, so N/A for the Brahms Serenade in the 2nd half of the concert).

This whole, current, somewhat obsessive 'democracy thing' has resulted in 'Concertmasters / Concertmistresses' somehow feeling that they now have the power and the authority to tell conductors how they should be conducting, what tempi they should be choosing etc.
Very sad indeed...