"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 lack 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...For more satisfying, complete one box sets, I prefer Jochum/Berlin Philharmonic (mono) in DG's "Originals" series and Weingartner (mono) on Capitol/EMI. Incidentally, Weingartner shows that even when the pace is relatively accelerated one can still project a melodic quality. The best collection in stereo of the Four Brahms Symphonies by the same conductor is, I feel, Bruno Walter's with the Columbia Symphony, but you must purchase INDIVIDUAL discs on Sony. I also like Klemperer/Philharmonia, but though EMI now offers his performances in a single container, I prefer the sound on his previous individual EMI issues, which seem headed for deletion. The latest Brahms/Klemperer recordings as well some other recent reissues by EMI seem to have lost a bit of the slightly warmer, more natural sound the former recordings had. I admit this is a personal call; therefore, others might feel differently.
"
None More Musical
J. F. Laurson | Washington, DC United States | 01/27/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"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."
Can vary by taste but this set is outstanding IMHO
Bigbalagan | Medway, MA USA | 01/16/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"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."
Highly recommendable version
P. B. Jespersen | Pristina, Kosovo | 02/19/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"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...."
Yes, the most musical
Yachtman | 12/19/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"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."