Two Brahms Four

Classical Court

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Among the best performances of this music are the Furtwangler/BPO. Karajan/BPO/DG has always been are recording Iâ€˜ve held in the highest esteem. Reiner/RPO, re-released on Chesky is also excellent, if not
quite as personally involved as the prior two are. There are tons of other great performances - this piece has been richly favored.
The finest music always allows protean interpretations, and there have been so many of this piece. I would love to hear the authentic 19th cent style of Abendoth and Megelberg in this music. Here are 2 recordings of interest.
WAND/NORTH GERMAN SYM ORCH/RCA GOLD SEAL 60088-2-RG (ADD)
Original analog recording by Deutsche Harmonia Mundi, Musikhalle (Laeiszhalle), Hamburg
Wand uses a faster tempo that pushes phrases along and occasionally runs them together. Lacking the expert authority of Reiner or the knowing caress of Karajan. He has enough sensitivity to slow down for the 2nd theme of the exposition (repeat taken).
The 2nd mvmt begins well but is eventually undone by a weak string section. Wand is a little too fast in the 3rd mvmt, again running phrases together and making the climax and coda perfunctory. This procedure continues thruout the finale.
Still, an amazing sense of spontaneity emerges from this recording, as is true of so many Wand performances â€“ that unmistakable feeling of live, flesh and blood music making. How does he do it? Uncanny.
The sound is nice, tho there is a little brightness that clearly reveals their lack of numbers. The strings sound thin and unable to support the full weight of the music.
STOKOWSKI/NEW PHILHARMONIA ORCH/RCA ARL-1-0719
Recorded in England, 1967. Mohr & Salvatore, engineering/producer.
Stokowski gives the opening a dynamic profile I never heard previously â€“ a very interesting way with the music. There is a wealth of dynamic shading thruout the first mvmt, making the performance a richer one
than many people are accustomed to. Tempos are on the quick side, with accelerandos employed at structural and expressive points, especially the 1st mvmt coda. The entire performance is finely nuanced.
Stokowski finds more in the music because he knows there is more, just as conductors in Brahmsâ€™s day did. While I still prefer Karajanâ€™s more expansive approach, I wouldnâ€™t want to be without Stokowskiâ€™s
recording which harkens back the authentic 19th cent tradition.
The recording is very distant â€“ no spotlighting. While Iâ€™m no fan of close-up, claustrophobic, Mercury-style recordings, this miles-away sound is a real deterrent to full enjoyment of the music.
--SPL

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Topic - Two Brahms Four - SPL 21:02:44 06/09/00 (15)

Yes! - Rob 01:21:56 06/10/00 (8)

RSO Frank? - SPL 21:47:53 06/10/00 (1)

Eh, yes. - Rob 22:15:11 06/10/00 (0)

HA! - dex 05:28:42 06/10/00 (3)

LOL - Rob 05:35:53 06/10/00 (2)

Re: LOL - dex 16:04:11 06/10/00 (1)

Re: - Rob 20:57:35 06/10/00 (0)

Mengelberg 4 (coupled w/2) is available on Biddulph WHL 057) - SE 04:44:08 06/10/00 (1)

Thanks! <nt> - Rob 04:54:18 06/10/00 (0)

Re: Two Brahms Four - Brian Cheney 21:53:30 06/09/00 (5)

Toscanini's Philharmonia Brahms Cycle is BACK IN PRINT! - SE 05:06:28 06/10/00 (3)

Rejoice! - Rob 05:33:03 06/10/00 (2)

Silly Me! - SE 06:05:15 06/11/00 (1)

Yes - Rob 06:30:20 06/11/00 (0)

Furtwangler killing Brahms??????? - Rob 00:39:59 06/10/00 (0)

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