Brahms: Hungarian Dances Nos. 1-21

Johannes Brahms (Composer), Istvan Bogar (Conductor), Andreas Hallén (Orchestra), Paul Juon (Orchestra), Johannes Brahms (Orchestra), Antonin Dvorák (Orchestra), Budapest Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra), Albert Parlow (Orchestra), Martin Schmeling (Orchestra), Andreas Hallen (Orchestra), Gál (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: Andreas Hallén, Paul Juon, Johannes Brahms, Antonin Dvorák, Budapest Symphony Orchestra, et al.
• Conductor: Istvan Bogar
• Composer: Johannes Brahms
• Audio CD (June 30, 1992)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Naxos
• ASIN: B0000013KA
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #36,713 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #58 in Music > Classical > Ballets & Dances > Dances

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

59 of 60 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Likely The Best Stereo Set Of The Hungarian Dances, May 31, 2005

By 

Jeffrey Lipscomb (Sacramento, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Brahms: Hungarian Dances Nos. 1-21 (Audio CD)

SHORT REVIEW: This 1988 recording of all 21 Hungarian Dances by Brahms is probably the best integral set available. Istvan Bogar leads a Hungarian ensemble (the Budapest Symphony) in playing that is idiomatic, if a little short on real zest or imagination. Although this Naxos CD has a rather stingy timing of just 49 minutes, the performances are well-recorded and constitute an easy choice for any Brahmsian who wants a complete set of these marvels in their orchestral versions.

LONGER REVIEW: Brahms wrote his 21 Hungarian Dances originally for piano four-hands, and he later orchestrated only #1, #3 and #10. #2 here is in a version by a Swedish conductor named Hallen, #4 is in an arrangement by composer Paul Juon, #5-7 are as transcribed by Schmeling, #8-9 were arranged by Gal, the bandmaster Parlow did #11-16, and Dvorak orchestrated #17-21. In general, the first 10 dances have the most Hungarian flavor and are the most frequently performed.

Having just listened through integral sets by Abbado (DG), Dorati (Mercury), Fischer (Philips) and this one by Bogar, I wonder if performing these lovely works with real zest and imagination has become a lost art. I am keeping this Bogar and eliminating the Abbado (too straight, and DG's sound is harsh), the Dorati (near equal to Bogar, but I prefer the sound of the latter's Hungarian ensemble), and the Fischer (kitschy and too clever by half, and rather listless to boot). To damn with faint praise, I feel that Bogar's set is the LEAST dull of this bunch.

Alternatives? Most of the great ones will require some searching, but the rewards are certainly worth it. Of course, there are the original piano 4-hand accounts, the best to my mind being all 21 by Tal/Groethuysen (Sony) and, for #11-21, the Katchen/Marty (Decca). Brahms's good friend Joseph Joachim arranged them for violin and piano, and there are superlative recordings of individual dances by Eugene Ysaye (Sony - extraordinary playing!), Bronislaw Huberman (Biddulph - even more extraordinary!), Albert Spalding (on a Remington LP that fetches about $100 in the collector's market!), David Oistrakh (Melodiya), Joseph Szigeti (Andante), and Tossy Spivakovsky (Pearl). All of these are played with a zeal and conviction only barely hinted at by Bogar and his ensemble.

There are some wonderful orchestral versions among historic CDs. Furtwangler did #1, 3, & 10 with the Vienna Phil. (EMI), Clemens Kraus recorded #1 & 3 with the London Symphony (Arlecchino), and Constantin Silvestri's virtuosic accounts of #5 & 6 are in a 10-CD set (Disky). But my favorites of all are those recorded in the 1950's by Gyorgy Lehel and the Hungarian Radio Symphony. Lehel's accounts of #1-8 and #10 are played with real abandon and a great sense of fun. These were on a Parliament LP that deserves to be reincarnated on a Supraphon CD.

Finally, if you want to REALLY hear the true Hungarian roots that inspired Brahms, try to find a copy of Arlecchino CD 109. That contains a SUPERB account of Bartok's "Bluebeard" (see my review) and, as a bonus, there are some thrilling Hungarian folk tunes played by the Toki Horvat Hungarian Putzsta Band. The latter performs a czardas used in one of Brahms's Hungarian Dances. This ensemble, led by the very gypsy-style violinist Toki Horvat, also has a cimbalon and what sounds like a tarogato (midway between a clarinet and a soprano sax). Everybody plays with a virtuosity that is simply staggering.

To have all 21 of these delightful dances with Bogar on an inexpensive Naxos CD definitely fills a niche. But if you want to hear how uninhibitedly this music CAN be played, consider finding some of the individual alternatives cited above.

Jeff Lipscomb

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cocking a snook at the critics, September 24, 2004

By 

Leslie Richford (Selsingen, Lower Saxony) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Brahms: Hungarian Dances Nos. 1-21 (Audio CD)

With my five-star evaluation of this disc I am not saying that there could be no better recording of this music, but I am saying that I think the whole CD is very well done indeed, particularly in view of its status as a budget-priced recording. A good deal of opprobrium has been poured on Naxos founder Klaus Heymann for his use of Eastern European orchestras, but with this 1988 recording from Budapest in Hungary he cocks a snook at his critics with a version of Brahms' 'Hungarian Dances' (orchestrated by various composers and conductors; Brahms originally wrote these pieces for piano duet) that would do many more 'exclusive' record labels proud. The various csardas, verbunkos etc. are played by the Budapest Symphony Orchestra with great zest and aplomb, the musicians obviously not only having a good time but also being inspired by the music (and by conductor István Bogár) to produce a version that is filled with Gypsy spirit and will get your foot tapping and your heart beating just that little bit faster. The recorded sound may not be perfect, but it, too, is of a very good standard, with plenty of detail to be heard; there is a good deal more presence than in some other early Naxos recordings, and the listener is placed right in front of the orchestra and not halfway down the hall (as sometimes happens with Naxos). This is sheer, bouncy good fun!

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Feel Good" Brahms!, May 3, 2000

By 

Mike Powers "mkp51" (Woolwich, ME USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Brahms: Hungarian Dances Nos. 1-21 (Audio CD)

For those like me who tend to think of Johannes Brahms' music as as always sounding very serious, this collection of his "Hungarian Dances" may come as a bit of a surprise. Here we see Brahms at his warmest, happiest, and most relaxed. The Budapest Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Istvan Bogar, plays with warmth, freshness, vigor, and a wonderfully idiomatic rhythmic quality. The CD's sound quality is excellent.

This CD was awarded a rosette by the Penguin Guide to Compact Discs. (The rosette is the Penguin Guide's the highest accolade, given to a recording of special distinction) It is also one of my personal favorites. I listen to it very frequently, and always come away with a lift. I'm sure all lovers of Brahms' music will find this a most entertaining listening experience!