Customer Reviews

Brahms: Complete Chamber Music [Box Set]

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Going against the grain here it seems, but to these ears this set is superb. The sound is from the end of an era where dry and up front were the preferred. That may be a sound not geared to each individual taste but if you like the quartet recordings of the mid-20th century you'll be more than fine with the sound here. Much has been said about the Italiano's sound and performances. I'm a fan of this ensemble--and that also seems a matter of personal taste across their recordings. These are fine, solid Italiano-readings of the Brahms quartets; if you like them you should be fine with these renditions. The other artists are top notch for their time and at the top of their form. The Berlin orchestra chamber group is excellent; Grumiaux is fine as usual; Sebok is solid; Starker, of course, as cited by even the critics of the set; and etc. If you pick up the set and don't like it let me know. I'll take a back-up copy if the price is right. These performances will only look and sound better as their rarity increases.

This collection of the Complete Brahms Chamber Music has most of the best, famous and sensitive versions of the Brahms chamber pieces, (some of it very hard to obtain elsewhere) all brought under one roof. The Beaux Arts Trio interpretations are exquisite and just can't be found individually anymore.

Just compare the price with the quality. Obviously it is not the best recording like does of Deutsche Gramophon or Sony, but it includes exceptional performances fron Quarteto Italiano and the rest of the interpreters. Don't belive what John C. Bostron wrote about quality. For only 70 dollars you have the complete chamber music of one of the greatests composers ever. Buy it, its a wonderfull experience for a very cheep price. If you don't like some recordings you can get other records to have a best sound performance. But for beginers ist just wonderful.

this is a great cd box set. the sound quality is excellent, and the chamber music of Brahms can't be beat. it's sheer perfection and melodic bliss. the only reason i don't think it deserves five stars is that the performances of the string quartets are pretty shabby. buy those somewhere else. but buy this philips set first.

Just compare the price with the quality. Obviously it is not the best recording like does of Deutsche Gramophon or Sony, but it includes exceptional performances fron Quarteto Italiano and the rest of the interpreters. Don't belive what John C. Bostron wrote about quality. For only 70 dollars you have the complete chamber music of one of the greatests composers ever. Buy it, its a wonderfull experience for a very cheep price. If you don't like some recordings you can get other records to have a best sound performance. But for beginers ist just wonderful.

I've listened to this set for years and never got into them, never enjoyed them, never was thrilled by them...thought that it was Brahms's fault!

Once I found the DG complete Chamber set used, I picked it up and actually fell in love with Brahms again!

The two sets are worlds apart! The Philips recordings are marked by dim and dry sound, while the DG is bright and fresh all the way through. The performances on the Philips are pretty well all not very inspired and energetic, (except the Cello Sonatas) while on the DG you feel like you want to keep listening over and over again!

For the love of Brahms, get the DG set instead!

For the money spent, I think this collection of recordings is less than inspiring. The Horn Trio is weak, and Quartetto Italiano's recordings of Op.51 are not only poor in tone, but also filled with recording noise. The overall colorless nature of the recordings makes such an investment questionable at best.