Search - Johannes Brahms, Carlos Kleiber, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra :: Johannes Brahms: Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98 - Carlos Kleiber / Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra

A well-played rendition that explores Brahms intimately

Yi-Peng | Singapore | 09/04/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This DG performance of Brahms's symphonic swansong is one of the best versions of this powerful, heartfelt and life-affirming symphony ever recorded. With Carlos Kleiber at the helm of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, the experience that can be gained from listening to this fine performance is akin to the experience gained from listening to his Beethoven. Kleiber conducts the music with a keen sense of purpose, and he never fails to elicit a peerless and rapturous sound from the Viennese players. And to top it all off, DG gives Kleiber its typical top-drawer recording quality, with ample bloom and ambience on the sound.Kleiber opens the first movement quietly and somewhat plaintively, setting the stage for the tragic destiny that the symphony is to present. This opening builds into a densely-argued movement, with the various strands of the argumentative thread tightly woven together and the contrasts in the quieter lyrical secions well brought out. The tensions of the first movement give way to calm and serenity in the second movement, with a rich and rounded horn sound, shimmering strings and lush woodwind contributions. When Kleiber lurches into the scherzo, he conducts it with a jubilant thrust that I have not encountered in many other recordings, even in Szell, and this is all the more so when the tempo of the music is driving and propulsive enough to bring out the rythmic spring. But in the passacaglia finale (which pays homage to Bach and, to some extent, the finale of Beethoven's Eroica symphony), Kleiber enables Brahms's passionate expression of tragic discourse speak for itself. The music has a driving force and emotional intensity that overshadows the quieter wind sections, and this is particularly so towards the end of the movement where the music displays the destiny that must be stormily confronted. The glory of the orchestra in these last few moments is enough to cap an excellent performance of a popular and life-affirming symphony.On the whole, I find this performance an excellent version of the last Brahms symphony, and this is sure to be a basic staple in any beginner's classical music library."

Brahms in the good hands of Carlos Kleiber

Hermes Camacho | Boulder, CO | 03/28/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Carlos Kleiber has the extraordinary ability to draw from a score the composer's intentions, coupled with an energy few other conductors have achieved since Arturo Toscanini. This recording on Brahms' Fourth Symphony was no exception.
Most often, conductors attempt to present an heroic mood which, for the most part, is fine, though it pales in comparison to Kleiber's interpretation, where he keeps a very dark and tragic feel throughout the symphony. Even the C Major Scherzo and the beautiful slow movement only seem to act as time passing, delaying the inevitable tragedy set forth by the first movement and the concluded with the last.
The lyricism of the VPO, the lush sound produced by the strings, and the presence of the winds are very evident in this recording, while control under the reigns held tightly by Kleiber give the piece much suspense, drama, and energy. The first movement is quite lush and lyrical, the strings able to elicit a beautiful sound. The heroism that makes itself present in the second theme is, again, set behind an overall tragic atmosphere, Kleiber giving the feeling of an army bravely facing one twice it's size.
The second movement is quite beautiful and the balancing that Kleiber achieves between the sections is amazing. The horn solos are lovely. It's also very refreshing to hear pizzicato attacks that are together!
The third movement is jubilant, very much in the character of Brahms scherzos in earlier symphonies and Kleiber handles it very well. One can hear the string passages executed cleanly and flawlessly. The energy is everpreseent in this movement and, again using the previous analogy, Kleiber gives the feeling of a brief victory.
The fourth movement is tragic through and through, even during moments of delicate beauty. I personally like this interpretation of the fourth movement, despite Kleiber's tendency to change tempos more often then he usually does, because the Piu Allegro coda actually sounds Piu Allegro. Far too often I find recordings where, though the tempo actually does move faster, the change of phrase from three to a bar to one to a bar prevents the faster tempo from coming through. Here, Kleiber takes it a tempo that feels faster in the new phrase division and gives the coda a climactic drive leading to
a tragic finale filled with a sense of both martyrdom and final despair.
Overall, the recording made by Carlos Kleiber and the Vienna Philharmonic is exquisite. Though there are a few times where the rhythm and cohesiveness is lost for a few moments, these are only minor flaws. The playing is generally very clean and lush and I'm always happy to hear a thoughtful timpanist and brass section, who never overpower when they aren't neccessary to do so. The balancing is spectacular, every chord is crisp and powerful, and the dynamics are followed to the letter. It's everything that one would want in a Brahms' Symphony No. 4, with the delicacy, drama, and power from the touch of a master like Carlos Kleiber."