Brahms: Symphony No. 1; Haydn Variations [Original recording remastered]

Johannes Brahms (Composer), George Szell (Conductor), Eugene Ormandy (Conductor), Cleveland Orchestra (Orchestra), Philadelphia Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: Cleveland Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra
• Conductor: George Szell, Eugene Ormandy
• Composer: Johannes Brahms
• Audio CD (August 1, 2006)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B000F6YW6C
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #215,772 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic Szell, Excellent Ormandy, September 1, 2006

By 

Xyp (Cincinnati, OH) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Brahms: Symphony No. 1; Haydn Variations (Audio CD)

This is classic George Szell. In fact, this performance of the Brahms 1st takes its place near the top of the heap amongst some very stiff competition: it is a great performance and an excellent addition to any collection, especially at mid-price. All the Szell discipline is on full display here- if you're looking for the a bit more overt emotion, try Bruno Walter or Otto Klemperer, as they both turn in ectsatic and soulful readings. Szell's take has a quicker, drier, and more immediate feel to it, but he totally makes it work: in my opinion that goes for just about everything he performed (there was a reason he is known for his precision). The Ormandy performances of the Hungarian Dances are equally rewarding, played with Philadephia's shining flourish. Classic.

For this reissue, the Sony DSD remastering process has very artfully restored the full range of sonics to this recording from the somewhat compressed original master. What an improvment! Highly recommended- let's hope Sony decides to give the rest of Szell's Brahms the same treatment.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Splendid remastering of a taut Brahms First from Szell, August 23, 2006

By 

Santa Fe Listener (Santa Fe, NM USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Brahms: Symphony No. 1; Haydn Variations (Audio CD)

Only Toscaninni led the Brahms First with more tension and drive, but the closest approximation is this classic Szell performance, which has been widely admired for over four decades. There has been a budget issue since 1991, in indifferent sound. As of August, 2006, there's this new DSD version in Sony's best remastering technique. Szell's condcuting, as always, is disciplined and devoid of rubato or sentimental softness. The secret when the reins are held this tight is to propel the music forward as if in one breath, never letting the stainless steel thread sanp.

It's an unconventional way to approach Brahms but a bracing one. Fortunately, Szell doesn't lapse into rigid time-beating: this reading is alive inside, full of dramatic events in every movement. The Cleveland Orch. plays with great power and transpaency, and the refurbished sonics are twice as good as they ever were on Epic lPs when this recording first appeared. Of a piece is Szell's highly controlled reading of the Haydn Vairations. Curiously, in both this version and the new reissue, Sony has tacked on five Hungarian Dances by Ormandy, which don't sound like they even come from the same planet as Szell's Brahms but make nice listening.

3 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Remastering Botch job in Haydn Variations, January 2, 2009

By 

musicdoc "jfddoc" (Wilmington, DE USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Brahms: Symphony No. 1; Variations on a Theme by Haydn; Five Hungarian Dances [Great Performances] (MP3 Download)

Warning...The Haydn Variations omits a repeat in the Theme that is present in the "Essential Classics" version. This version runs 17:02 and the EC versions runs 17:30. Download that version if you want the whole thing!