Search - Johannes Brahms, Robert Schumann, Herbert von Karajan :: Brahms: Symphony No. 4; Schumann: Symphony No. 4

The Two "Poet Speaks!"

Sungu Okan | Istanbul, Istanbul Turkey | 02/19/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD includes not published recordings made in 1950s' by young Karajan. And includes the last symphonies of two romantic master: Schumann and Brahms. These last symphonies are both tragic, too romantic and sensitive.



Schumann performed with Berliner Philharmoniker made in 1957 in mono, but a very good sound. Performance is very good. Of course, the famous reading of Furtwangler is historic, made 4 years before. But Karajan performed especially the first movement very energic, dramatic. And worth to listen. The 4th Symphony is the most drammatic of all of Schumann's symphonies. It was completed in his last period, 1851, towards to tragic end of his life. This symphony to be constitued in a single movement, written as a symphonic-fantasia. Orchestration, as usual in Schumann, not too powerful, brilliant, it is a little weak, but the music is very romantic, poetic and has a tragic mood. Especially the first movement is a drammatic opening movement, the second movement is a lyric "Romanze" which I think has a musical diolag between Robert and Clara (violoncello solo and oboe). But in Finale, there is a glorious joy, contrasts to the dark mood of beginning movements.



Brahms' Symphony No. 4 performed with Philharmonia Orchestra in London, made in 1955, but stereo. It is one of the first stereo recordings. It is played flexible, very fluent. Not so sensitive as Bruno Walter, but still impressive with their powerful and striking reading.



Highly recommended.

"

Not Karajan's best--especially the Schumann 4th

King Lemuel | Puyallup, WA | 05/29/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Around 1970 Karajan put out a Schumann symphony cycle that received justifiable high praise from Harris Goldsmith of High Fidelity Magazine. He mentioned the Schumann performance on this cd that was not released in the USA. The main problem with this Schumann 4th is the quality of the mono recording. It just does not sound all that great. It does sound much better than many historical recordings, especially those from the 40s and 30s recorded onto 78s. The sound reminds of Karajan's early to mid 50s Beethoven Symphony Cycle with the Philharmonia.



So why bother? We do have many outstanding performances of these symphonies with great sound. The Brahms symphony was apparently recorded in 1957 and, as a general rule of thumb, the closer you get to 1960 the better the sound. This is very true with the Brahms 4th. It sounds not quite as good as Karajan's mid 70s Brahms symphony cycle.



If you are a Karajan nut and collect his stuff (one could have far worse hobbies) this will fill in a hole in your collection and also demonstrate the improved sound that went on during the 1950s. The Brahms symphony is enjoyable to listen to.



"

Somewhat interesting performances, but in sketchy mono sound

Santa Fe Listener | Santa Fe, NM USA | 11/05/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"EMi sat on these recordings for a long time. They are in scrappy mono, from 1955 (Schumann Fourth) and 1957 (Brahms Fourth). In neither case does either orchestra or conductor seem to have their hearts in it. In fact, there are only two outstanding movements, the very first on the CD, a robust, wonderfully fluid opening to the Schumann--if only the rest of the symphony didn't fall into routine--and the finale of the Brahms, a committed, flexible reading at odds with all of Karajan's later versions of the Fourth.



Otherwise, the only thing of interest is historical. Karajan recorded the Schumann Fourth barely eight months after Furtwangler died in Nov. 1954, at the helm of Furtwangler's orchestra, an ensemble the older, very jealous conductor never allowed the younger to touch.



Since Furtwnagler had made his own, quite famous Schumann Fourth in the postwar era, I wondered if this would be a battle between the once and future king. It wasn't. Furtwangler had nothing to worry about beyond the grave, and Karajan would wait until 1971 to record another Schumann symphony--very well, as it turned out."