Brahms: Serenades Nos. 1 & 2

Johannes Brahms (Composer), Charles Mackerras (Conductor), Scottish Chamber Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: Scottish Chamber Orchestra
• Conductor: Charles Mackerras
• Composer: Johannes Brahms
• Audio CD (November 23, 1999)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Telarc
• ASIN: B000035X5A
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #46,464 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. I. Allegro Molto

2. II. Scherzo: Allegro Non Troppo

3. III. Adagio Non Troppo

4. IV. Menuetto 1; Menuetto 2

5. V. Scherzo: Allegro

6. VI. Rondo: Allegro

7. I. Allegro Moderato

8. II. Scherzo: Vivace

9. III. Adagio Non Troppo

10. IV. Quasi Menuetto

11. V. Rondo: Allegro

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars illuminating performances of great, little-known music, February 2, 2000

By 

Allan Brain (Houston, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Brahms: Serenades Nos. 1 & 2 (Audio CD)

Sir Charles Mackerras is a great conductor and scholar. He was among the pioneers in what is now called "historically informed performance", but has not really gone so far as to embrace original instruments or "period performance practice".

Mackerras' recordings of Handel and Mozart are well known; in the past several years, he has expanded his recorded repertoire to include Beethoven, Schubert, Mahler, and now Brahms. He also has a specialty in music of Czech composers such as Dvorak and Janacek. This recording, like so many others of this great and relatively little-known conductor, is one of the best available of these works. (Believe it or not, it is hard to think of a single recording by Mackerras that is not among the best; his Handel Messiah from the late '60s is still a great choice)

The Brahms serenades are "lighter" than the symphonies, but these performances are "lighter" yet, in that the orchestral clarity characteristic of the "period performance" style is ideal for these beautiful works, and Telarc's recording provides even more clarity. Anyone who thinks Brahms is ponderous or "thick" should try these works in these performances. After hearing this CD, I am determined to go get Mackerras' recordings of the Brahms symphonies.

You will love this music; and do yourself a favor and go get Mackerras'recordings of the Dvorak Slavonic Dances too!

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Muscular and expressive interpretation, December 14, 2004

By 

Stephan Fay (Panamá City) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Brahms: Serenades Nos. 1 & 2 (Audio CD)

Thanks to the historically informed performance of Maestro Mackerras (small divided violin sections and natural horns) and the tremendous recording quality of Telarc one can hear all the instruments very clear and fresh sounding.
I think that this is currently the best pick of the Serenades one can get. I like Mackerras muscular and fairly dramatic interpretation.

Try also his great Brahms Symphony cycle. It is very different than others because Mackerras uses the performing forces Brahms intended in his Meiningen Orchestra (for instance the size and layout of the orchestra including the use of natural brass).

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars These are the Serenade Recordings to Own, November 12, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Brahms: Serenades Nos. 1 & 2 (Audio CD)

I'm a great fan of Sir Charles, but I'm of two minds about his celebrated and controversial Brahms Symphony set. I think the chamber-orchestra approach takes away from almost as much as it brings to this music. On the other hand, I'm willing to say that Brahms's two youthful serenades have never sounded fresher or more piquant than in these wonderful performances, especially the Serenade No. 1, which has all the "look-at-me-world" audaciousness that Brahms must have felt in putting his first orchestral work to paper. It glows, especially in Telarc's crystalline recording. Sir Charles's way with the sweeter, more sedate Second Serenade is just as winning, but it's the performance of the First Serenade that I still, joyously, hear resounding in my imagination.