Search - Johannes Brahms, James Levine, Chicago Symphony Orchestra :: German Requiem

Huh?

Yvonne Smith | Apple Valley, CA United States | 08/30/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I own three German Requiems and after reading the reviews, I almost didn't buy this one. However, I remembered hearing and liking it years ago, so followed my gut. I'm very glad I did. This is a wonderful performance, full of spirit and fire. It is not, however, a conventional performance and maybe that is what people object to. This performance harks more to Mahler than to Beethoven. Boring it isn't! The sound is crystal, the orchestra brillient, the soloists splendid. Unlike others, I thought the chorus was good. It wasn't at Robert Shaw standards (few are), but it had good dynamic control and crisp articulation. I recommend this performance."

A Small Scaled but Tender Reading of the German Requiem

Grady Harp | Los Angeles, CA United States | 02/20/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"James Levine usually goes for the big moments in his conducting and so it is with some surprise that this recording dating back to 1983 is so subdued. Certainly the forces at hand - Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the elegantly trained by Margaret Hillis Symphony Chorus - are able to give more in sheer volume and propulsive impact, so it must be Levine's vision of Brahms.



The tempi are on the slow side: another way of saying the same thing is that Levine lingers on Brahms' lovely phrases. His soloists are among the finest for this deeply touching Requiem. Surely this is one of the most beautiful readings of 'Ihr habt nun Trauerigkeit' by Kathleen Battle of any of the recordings. And Hakan Hagegard has just the right weight and color for the baritone solos. The orchestral playing is caressingly languid and the choral singing floats.



For those who look for a more dramatic reading then the von Karajan/Janowitz/Waechter version remains the one with the most impact. But for the contemplative solace Brahms intended, then this is the reading. Grady Harp, February 2005"

Quite a disappointment

Jeffrey Swaim | Winston-Salem, North Carolina | 12/31/1999

(2 out of 5 stars)

"The Chicago Symphony Chorus is famous for its excellence. Former chorusmaster Margaret Hillis was truly one of the greatest choral conductors of our time. She was a taskmaster, demanding precision and perfection, which she usually received. I counted myself lucky to sing a local "Messiah" concert under her direction a few years ago. What a tremendous experience to learn from this master. Imagine my disappointment when I bought this cd of Brahms' choral gem. The choral singing is incredibly insensitive. It's more of a scream-fest than a requiem. The only redeeming factor is the solo work. Kathleen Battle shines in this chestnut for sopranos. The sound is thrilling: clear and expressive. She spins a line of gold. For a satisfying listening experience of this work, I resort to Shaw's recording with the Atlanta Symphony and Chorus. Sadly, the solo work is not on the same level as the choral singing! If only we could merge the Chicago solo work with the Atlanta recording!"