Customer Reviews

Brahms: Symphony No. 3 / Schumann: Symphony No.4

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I can only hope that I find my old age as fruitful as Pierre Monteux did. Of course I can only infer this from the performances here, but the evidence is unmistakeable: lithe, vital, impassioned. The BBC Brahms Third surpasses the Concertebouw Third on Tahra; it is tighter, better controlled, but no less fluid or expressive. The Schumann Fourth is very similar to the 1952 San Francisco recording; both are excellent. And the Rossini is suitably light on its feet.
My complements to the people at BBC Legends who put together this collection. I can only hope that there are more on the way.

We are lucky that the great Pierre Monteux (1875-1964) enjoyed such a long life that he had a considerable career in the stereo era, unlike Koussevitzky, who was born just the year before but didn't record beyond the era of 78s. Here in excellent clear mono are two examples of Monteux's lesser known side. As a French conductor he was expected to be expert in Debussy, Ravel, and Berlioz, and as the conductor who premiered the Rite of Spring, he was looked to for Stravinsky. But Monteux had a strong affinity for German music, so it's gratifying that we have this muscular, assured Brahms Third from Nov. 1962 in Manchester. Even though the orchestra is the BBC Northern SO, which makes its share of fluffs, and not the Philharmonia, it wouldn't be hard to suppose that Klemperer was on the podium (especially in the measured but powerful finale), except for the more relaxed, unforced manner that was a hallmark of Monteux, who hid his expert abilities behind the image of a dozing walrus. also form this concert is a totally charming Rossini overture, L'Italiana in Algeri, all the more enjoyable because it takes its own sweet time rather than zipping to the finish on speed, as per usual.

We move up several notches in orchestras with the BBC Symphony back in London, for the Schumann Fourth, a tricky work full of fluid tempo changes that must be handled with sure instincts. The sonics are a touch brighter, recorded in Oct 1961 at Royal Festival Hall. Monteux's reading is full of vitality and lovely transitions, taking off from a slightly slower than usual opening -- once again, I am reminded of Klemperer. Since these two performances find Monteux at age 86 and 87, it's no wonder that is contract with the London Sym. ran until he was one hundred, an age I wish he had reached.