Rampant interpretations, aristocratic panache, visceral conc
Hiram Gomez Pardo | Valencia, Venezuela | 05/04/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
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To interpret successfully the First Symphony of Johannes Brahms requires from any director a true epic and even titanic effort. This is undoubtedly, one of the most extraordinary musical achievements in the history of music. The impressive range of distinct approach depends in last instance, of you as conductor and you as listener.
Despite all the facts, there just have been a bunch of egregious conductors that have been able to express with accurate precision and notable idiomatic sense, the whole meaning of this sumptuous Opus 68.
This performance of Istvan Kertesz, still stands out as one of the most legendary and febrile performances that the history reminds. Vitality, energy, radiant expression, sublime conviction, nuance and that autumnal feature are blended with solvent honesty and fervent commitment Maybe you lack the impressive mercurial robustness of Arturo Toscanini conducting the Philharmonia Orchestra, the cosmuic gaze of Fürtwangler or the granitic conception of Otto Klemperer, but undeniably this version possesses the main ingredients to be recognized and even estimated performance among the great ones.
The Second Symphony is performed cheerfully, but to my view, no other version may be compared with the legendary version of Bruno Walter from 1953 with the New York Philharmonic.
Don't miss this version, because it belongs to that reduced Pantheon of immortal versions.
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