Brahms: Rhapsodie Op.53/Symphonie No.2 [IMPORT]

Johannes Brahms (Composer), Claudio Abbado (Conductor), Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra)

Product Details

• Orchestra: Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
• Conductor: Claudio Abbado
• Composer: Johannes Brahms
• Audio CD (January 11, 1990)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Dg Imports
• ASIN: B000001GB5
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #186,878 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

1. Alto Rhapsody, for alto, male chorus & orchestra, Op. 53

2. Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 73: Allegro non troppo

3. Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 73: Adagio non troppo

4. Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 73: Allegretto grazioso

5. Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 73: Allegro con spirito

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Another very fine performance in Claudio Abbado's Brahms cycle with the Berlin Philharmonic. The Second Symphony is the most sunny and lyrical of the four, and Abbado seems to have found a way to make the melodies sing while keeping the music moving along nicely. The coupling, a marvelous Alto Rhapsody, features Marjana Lipovsek, a terrific singer who doesn't seem to get her due on recordings. Altogether recommendable. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Abbado does it again, January 31, 2001

By	Jonathan Toren "WKCR-FM" (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Abbado proves again in this recording that he is the world's foremost interpreter of Brahms. He and his great orchestra create an incredible lush sound that is perfect for Brahms. The first movement is achingly beautiful and the finale is thrilling, despite the fact that the speeds are somewhat relaxed. My only reservation when it comes to this cd and the others in the set is that there is a little too much echo in the recording. While on the one hand this adds to the richness of the sound, on the other hand it sacrifices a degree of clarity at some points. The beautifully-sung Alto Rhapsody is a great bonus, and the Variations on a Theme by Haydn (that isn't really by Haydn) is also richly played. On the whole, a great cd.

0 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Brahms is sure-fire, but this has no fire, September 23, 2005

By	Santa Fe listener - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)

In the modern era, with such good orchestral musicians everywhere, it's hard to find a bad Brahms Second. This one takes off in the last momvement after more or less coasting through the first three. The opening minutes foretell the worst, with Abbado's soft-grained rhythms, smooth sonority, and total lack of emphasis. Even when he's doing a very good job at balances and the Berliners are playing gorgeously, Abbado tends to be foursquare in his approach to Brahms, and that can be pretty boring, as witness most of this CD. the best that can be said is that it's melifluous (to a fault).

Lipovsek had a short-lived fling at recording, although given her sharp tone, Slavic shrillness on top, and absence of interesting ideas, I don't quite see why. Here she is cautious and underpowered, which isn't competitive in a work that has seen glorious performances from Ferrier, Ludwig, and Baker.