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Live... Audio only.
William Steinberg's read of this Brahms symphony is on the "muscular" side (like Szell with Brahms Two).... This was from a Cleveland Orchestra broadcast. Robert Conrad's voice follows the performance.
While the first two movements were nice, the third movement was one of the better reads I've heard in recent time... It's a little on the "brisk" side, which is a good thing here. (The music should take on more a "narrative" quality than a "romantic" one.) It does get "rushed" in spots, but not excessive. But the final movement may be the best I've ever heard, including the Szell performance. The final movement in this performance really brought out the "Cleveland sound" to its pinnacle. The low brass was phenomenal, as was oboist John Mack. The articulation amongst the orchestral sections is spine-chilling. Although I'd give Szell's performance a slight edge overall due to being great in all four movements (and also truer to the composer), if you like the Brahms Three on the "enthralling" side, you'll love this.
Follow Ups:
Several hours ago, I heard a broadcast of maybe the best third movement from his First Symphony that I've ever encountered...... (Only that movement was played.) The wind playing was absolutely exquisite. When I checked the playlist, I was shocked finding out it was Toscanini/NBC Symphony. The recording seemed exceptional for its time.
So I then checked out YouTube.... It was part of a made-for-TV concert back in 1951. It is one of the best recordings of Toscanini I've encountered. The concert begins with a superlative performance of Carl Maria von Weber's Euryanthe Overture.
This is not my favorite read of the Brahms One (save for that third movement, which was borderline definitive- I have a similar opinion of Szell's performance). The outer movements were too "hot" for my tastes. But the playing by the NBC Symphony was off the charts. The recording really captures the incredible articulation and precision Arturo was able to extract from a symphony orchestra.
His studio La Mer, (still want to hear his Carnegie Hall recording), and his Saint Saens organ symphony, though the organ used--if it was indeed an organ--is horrible; almost comical.
What does it for me in the Saint Saens is Toscanini's way with the orchestral score: sizzling Scherzo mov't (or first part of the 2nd); and most perfect balancing of excitement and grandiosity in the Finale. Takes it all in one breath and never loses the line.
Never thought a mono recording would give me goose bumbs, but these two do.
Forgive me if you've read this before.
Steinberg set was my first Brahms. On Command Classics with the Pittsburgh IIRC.
These days it's Furt for the 1st and 4th. Everyone else sounds a bit flaccid after Furtwangler in these symphonies, IMHO.
Wand NDR for the 3rd. One of my desert-island discs; Walter too, because of the way he successfully pulls together all the elements of the 1st mov't, to my ears anyway.
I've got Ansermet doing the 2nd, at the moment, but just a random Lp purchase.
Szell/Cleveland is still my standard for the Brahms Three..... Followed by Previn/NHK (link)..... The latter had the best 2nd movement I've encountered.
For the Brahms One, I'm partial to Christoph von Dohnanyi, of all people. Both his Cleveland and NDR performances are near definitive.
For the Brahms Two and Four, I'll take Bruno Walter and Columbia Symphony Orchestra.
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