OT: Brahms Symphonies

[Ben]

Ran across this clip on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHmfRNgDtUU

EMI promoting a new Brahms Symphony cycle with Rattle and the BPO.  While I'm no fan of Rattle, and didn't really enjoy his Brahms Ein Deutsches Requiem, some of the clips do sound promising.  Seems to be getting quite a sumptuous sound out the BPO (at least from the sounds of it, watching the clips in HD on YouTube).  The clips were brief of course, but I didn't detect much of his quirky, micro-managing.  It remains to be seen, I suppose, until September when they are released.  After buying the Requiem, I figured I had sworn off buying any more Rattle discs, but some of this could be enticing - I always seem to be looking for more Brahms...

Ben

[John Kim]

Let's hope EMI engineers got them right this time; most of EMI/BPO recordings are somewhat unfocused, opaque and at low level.

I do see/hear some micromanaging in the beginning of 3rd:I though.

John,

[barry guerrero]

Barf me now. 

[sperlsco]

I think I'll buy these recordings and listen to them while reading DH's book on Brahms' Symphonies.  I wonder if this plan would meet with Dave's approval?   

(I should add that Dave's new book is very enjoyable!) 

[barry guerrero]

Maybe it's my imagination, but I think Rattle is looking more Karajan-like   .    .     .   except for the hair.

Do I smell yet more Gramophone and BBC Mag. featured articles for Rattle? (oh, let's see what Simon's having for lunch today. Hi Simon, what do you think of Brahms? Ohhhh, he's just f_____n' great! Thanks Simon, that sure was enlightening). Where's Monty Python when you need them.

[Damfino]

Not to take this Brahms thread too far off course (from Rattle), but I have been enjoying the heck out of the Janowski Brahms SACDs with the Pittsburgh Symphony. After reading the Amazon reviews, I expected them to be ridiculously fast. I have not found them to be so at all. Symphony # 2 may strike some as fast (and the 4th movement is faster than usual), but i think I would have become a fan of that symphony sooner than I did if I had always heard it that way.

I think # 4 is the best, really intense, rather like the Carlos Kleiber version. I like all four, and the SACD recordings are thunderous. I can't stop playing them!

Symphony # 1 comes with a stirring recording of the Hayden variations, and # 4 includes some Hungarian dances (though not # 6, my favourite).

[barry guerrero]

Those have been getting very strong views from Classicstoday (Dave).

[je-b]

I attended the Philharmonie performances at which these new discs were recorded - and (very much to my own suprise!) the whole thing was very good, with the Fourth being hands down the greatest performance of this work I've ever heard live. The Finale of that symphony had a darkness and forlornness to it and was feverishly driven to the cataclysmic final chord by Rattle.
These performances are all available via the BPO's "Digital Concert Hall" - just if anyone's interested... 

[barry guerrero]

hey, I may poke some at the whole Rattle-as-media-darling business, but I'm always happy to hear when something is actually good. Then again, if you're going to do Brahms with the BPO, the smartest move might be to just give a downbeat, then go walk off the stage.   

[Leo K]

I am waiting anxiously to hear this set...can't wait.

Those clips on youTube sounded right on to me...like Barry said, the BPO could do this in their sleep...maybe even I could conduct Brahms with them!


--Todd

[Leo K]

A quick thought...if this set is released on the High Quality disks in Japan that may be the way to go...