Customer Reviews

Brahms: Symphony No. 3; Haydn-Variations

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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Brahms' Third Symphony, written during a summer holiday in Wiesbaden, has sometimes be named to be his "Faust Symphony". After the struggle with Beethoven's shadow in #1 and the beauty of the Worther See which you can find in #2, the third makes probably Brahms' most personal symphony.

This seems to be a good playground for the passionate, broad, late recording of Bernstein with the Vienna Philharmonic. Although the tempi (Poco Allegretto!) are much slower than in other interpretations (also in earlier recordings by Bernstein), the result is very striking and intense, just listen especially to the final movement. I am not sure if Brahms would go along with Bernstein's interpretation (maybe he would fall asleep as he did with Liszt's b-flat minor sonata...), but I surely do.

A nice and beautiful addition are the variations on a theme by Haydn in the orchestral version.

My first impression on hearing this performance was that it was a bit odd. The tempi are quite slow and there's quite a bit of rubato, and it's unlike any other Brahms 3 I've ever heard. So I might have agreed with Mr. Hurwitz. Then I listened to it again, and I was overwhelmed. Bernstein has totally thought this music through, and every choice he makes -- if you can get all those other interpretations out of your mind -- seems to be utterly right and in the service of a deep emotional commitment to the work. Check this one out.

This is one of Bernstein's late recordings with the Vienna Philharmonic, taped live in concert in 1983. Bernstein conducts with terrific intensity which may not be to everyone's taste; tempos are slow, especially I and IV. For the record, I prefer recordings of this work by Karl Bohm/Vienna Philharmonic (DG), and Bruno Walter/Columbia Symphony (Sony). Bernstein's intensity seems to make this work-the shortest of Brahms' 4 Symphonies, seem longer, larger than it should be. Still, there is much to attract the listener: details in woodwinds and violas stand out beautifully which are glossed over in some recordings.

The Haydn Variations, however, are beautifully done. Here Bernstein reminds me of Bruno Walter's Columbia Symphony recording (Sony) with a better orchestra.

For those wanting Bernstein's late Brahms with the Vienna Philahrmonic, Symphony 4 is the best played and best sounding, and the Tragic and Academic Festival overtures are also excellent: all DG recordings.

I bought this recording for the Haydn Variations, one of my favorite classical pieces. I listened to a number of renditions before settling on this one, and was not disappointed.

Bernsteins' conducting may not suit everyone but I feel it suits this piece beautifully. The wind instruments, strings and percussion are all perfectly balanced and the measured tempo sets the stage nicely for one of the best finales to any orchestral work. Not perfect but highly recommended at this price.