Customer Reviews

Brahms: Symphonies Nos. 1-4 (Box Set)

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

 

 

I rarely stop looking for perfect performances and have an unhealthy habit of doubling and quintupling up works that I already own. Rarely does a performance come by that is so outstanding, so immediately satisfying all my desires, that I stop looking for new or even different recordings of the works in question. Maurizio Pollini's rendition of the late Beethoven sonatas is one such performance (although it hasn't kept me from amassing some 20-plus versions of each of those sonatas), G.Wand's Brahms is another.

Incredibly musical, these four recordings (in great sound, now that they are remastered) exude a vitality that is beyond words. G.Wand is the ego-less conductor who disappears in the music making, leaving only Brahms and the listener. The result is a most thankful one, indeed. I am nost suggesting you throw away your Abbado, Karajan, Walter and Bohm (the rest can probably go, though) - but these are the performances I always turn to, the ones that never disappoint me, no matter what mood I am in. That's more than I can say about most recordings.

This may sound like hyperbole - but except for the handful of people I know who don't rank this set atop their Brahms collections all others would agree that it isn't.

Brahms (unlike, say Mozart) can be effectively performed in a wide range of styles, so personal taste is a big issue with the various versions of his symphonies. My feeling is that (because of this variability in Brahm's music) a range of performances might be enjoyable. Amongst the ten or so I'm aware of, Wand's is the most satisfying. But I also really enjoy Lennie's versions, even though he is rightly accused of slowing them down almost to a crawl---but they are nevertheless Brahms. If you are looking for a set of the Symphonies, however, you can't do much better than these.

The Symphonies of Brahms in particular regularly keep me alert to the possibilities of new and rewarding adventures in discovery and enjoyment. When it comes to sets of these works, it is difficult, of course, to find a conductor who hits a home run by emphatically touching all four bases (symphonies). A number of factors might be responsible for one's falling short. Sometimes, it's the absence of fantasy, inspiration, loving care, revealing colors and nuances or just that "special" feel. In other instances excesses may contribute to nonfulfillment. For example, in the last movement of the First Symphony Wand is somewhat overdriven. At times, he is also choppy. In the Third Symphony's first movement his pace is too fast, and occasionally, as in the First Symphony, he comes down too hard. In the composer's lovely second and third movements, the poetic element is virtually nonexistent, and again, the pace is too swift. Finally, in the last movement Wand permits some mannerisms to stifle the music's continuity. As for his Brahms Second, I find it rather characterless. The second movement reminds me of Szell's--emotionally cool. In the Brahms Fourth, Wand reverts to short changing the music's lyrical element...As sets go, I prefer Jochum/Berlin Philharmonic(mono)in DG's "Originals" series and Klemperer(EMI). I also favor Walter's Columbia Symphony series, though one must purchase four separate discs. Felix Weingartner's collection(recorded from 1938-1940)is consistently superb, but one should be cautioned regarding its dated sound, though it poses no significant problem for me.

Got this version a couple of weeks back. I can safely say, I like it very much. There is presence and clarity to Wand which I am only beginning to rediscover. Heard him 12 years ago in London in Bruckner's 8th, which I then got on CD from a friend by chance recently. By the way, if you don't have that version yet, get it. That lead me to order the other Bruckner symphonies with Wand and the Berliner. They are all fantastic and rival Jochum's legendary. Jochum is probably still beter in the 9th. This lead me to get the Schubert 8&9 with Wand, and since they also really appealed to me (more warmth/passion than Karajan without loosing the fitting 'Germanic' style/structure)I decided also to get Brahm's symphonies with Wand.

Had already Furtvängler's and Jochum's on CD and Boult's on LP. I live far away from my LP's at the moment (sadly so) so Boult's is faint in my memory although I recall that I really liked it (a shame EMI haven't published them on CDs...even if the LP sounds better). Furtwängler is magic, but the sound quality is unfortunately poor. A shame that they don't sound as good as say the EMI La Bohème and Tosca from the same years.

With Wand the structure is clearer without loosing the passion. The orchestra plays very well, and it is hard not to get carried with them and Wand. Of course, the emotions music trigger are always impossible to describe, but in short I highly recommend Wand...so much so, that I have ordered the holy grail (Beethoven's symphonies) with him as well. For me, here Furtwängler rules, so it will be interesting to see how Wand compares.

Keep enjoying....

Not a review (though the rating reflects my musical judgment), but I don't see any other place for this information. The first movements of symphonies 3 and 4 are swapped here, It's not just the links, the actual files are mistagged, so the first movement of symphony 4 is labelled as the first movement of symphony 3 and vice-versa.

I gave Wand's Brahms cycle a few shots over time and it fails to make much of an impression. The opening of the first symphony jumps out at you with a fast tempo and it's genuinely exciting but also it lacks the gravity of many other conductors. However, Wand does not do much to sustain the initial excitement. The performance becomes monotonous, with little imagination or input from the conductor. The great finale, with all it's tempo changes and contrasting sections is played in one forward moving amble. I was not moved and this music is magnificent, the listener should be completely involved. Wand continues on in the same sense with the rest of the symphonies and everytime I expect my blood to surge in my veins or get goosebumps, Wand and his orchestra fail. The emotions are typically glossed over. These are romantic symphonies which Wand plays too literally.

It's unfortunate because Wand can be inspired at his best or at least he can be dependably forthright to get the job done. I enjoyed his late Mozart symphonies, vibrant and exciting. His Beethoven 9th on RCA I ranked as one of the finest of the digital era with some charged playing and an intense choral finale. Wand also made an outstanding Bruckner 8th, live in Lubeck cathedral. Brahms should be right up his alley and yet I didn't feel that the conductor was very involved, just moving along. The orchestra plays well but quite a distance away from the wonders of Berlin or Vienna.

There is a multitude of better performances of these awesome symphonies. Furtwangler, Karajan, Klemperer or Abbado in the 1st... Karajan's digital version in the 2nd... Solti or Furtwangler in the 3rd... Carlos Kleiber or Furtwangler in the 4th symphony. Even Simon Rattle put out a very good cycle recently on EMI. All are preferable to Wand. If you're coming to this music for the first time, Wand will do but you'll ask yourself that something must be missing and you'll be right about that.

I originally purchased the 3rd symphony by Brahms performed by Wand. He captures the spirit of the music perfectly. In the words of the Penguin Guide, "the forward thrust returns excitingly in the outer movements, yet overall Wand's wise way with Brahms, strong and evenly paced, works beautifully." I finally bought the set. The 2nd and 4th are also very satisfying. Penguin describes the 2nd as "glowing". My favorite 4th though is Bernstein's. I have Abbado's 2nd and 3rd as well. They are also well played. The one symphony I am having a problem with is Brahm's first. Wand's tempo is very fast. Karajan does not satisfy. Walter's is too slow. Perhaps Abbado or Klemperer? This is a good set to have. You won't be disappointed. As the recent Penguin guide states: this "set is also highly recommendable for providing spontaneously compelling readings. Wand's admirers need not hesitate." Enjoy.

Have owned several versions, had strong bias toward Karajan 1964. Have a couple GREAT recordings of individual symphonies (i.e. the 4th Reiner/ Royal Phil., the 1st Wand/Chicago Symphony)

Here's my take:

Forget Kemplerer. After so many modern recordings, Klemperer's just don't sound good. I have them and can't listen to them. I finally deleted them from my library.

Karajan 1964. Sure; and they were the greatest of the time. I never did care for the 4th in this set. Still think the 2nd is one of the greatest. Forget the later Karajan versions.

Wand - warm, musical, beautiful, extremely well played. If you want one set that will last, I think this is the one.

There's no need to repeat the specific criticisms offered by the previous three-star reviewer; I think they are right on. Gunter Wand appeals to a mass audience for the same reason that Eugene Ormandy once did. He offers anodyne performances to which no one can take exception -- aside from listeners who want originality, passion, insight, intensity, and a personal viewpoint from the conductor. These Brahms symphonies are a case in point. Jump to any movement, say the slow movement of the Second Sym., and you hear the same thing: a pretty run-through in nice sound that avoids making any statement whatever about the music. The finale of the Second moves at a comfortable jog-trot, with the occasional swell and slow down for no reason. It's the perfect thing for entry-level listening, and as in any field, ninety percent of classical music is bought by newcomers, casual listeners, and the uncritical in general.

Why, then, should I bother to swim against the tide? Two reasons. first, to call a spade a spade. This is bland, innocuous music-making. Second, to point toward genuinely first-rate interpreters of Brahms, who are legion -- Furtwangler, Toscanini, Walter, Giulini, Klemperer, Tennstedt, Bernstein, and Karajan would make any short list, and their readings often come at bargain or midprice. Popularity can't be the sole measure of art. If it were, calendars of the Alps would be greater art than Francis Bacon.

Brahms left Hamburg and did not return; why should you? My advice: head south to Vienna for Brahms. (Proviso: I own the original issues of these, but improved sound would only clarify the shortcomings.)