Search - George Szell, Cleveland Orchestra :: Symphony 1-4 Complete/Variations Haydn/Tragic

One of the best Brahms Symphonies Set

Sam | 02/21/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This set is truly one of the best recordings of Brahms that I have heard. The sound of Cleveland's strings is lush and the wind section was one of the greatest in history (John Mack on oboe, Robert Marcellus on clarinet). Listen especially to the second movement of the 3rd Symphony."

Tight Collar Brahms - Very Straightforward

M. C. Colver | henderson, nv United States | 03/29/2006

(2 out of 5 stars)

"George Szell was both well known and critized for his precision. When dealing with classical greats like Mozart and Haydn, George Szell is one of the first conductors I seek after, as the Classical Period of music allows for such squared-off conducting. However, Szell's abilities as a Romantic Period conductor (Brahms, with so many pear-shaped tones on the grand scale) seem to lack a certain level of passion, fire, and fluidity that this kind of music thrives on. I might say that listening to this recording is like having to look at van Gogh's "Starry Night" rendered with nothing but straight lines. All of the notes are there and in order, but they're delivered rather stringently.



As for boxed sets of Brahm's Symphonies, Otto Klemperer comes with my highest recommendations. Compare the robust sound of Klemperer's opening of the 1st symphony to Szell's rushed rendition and the difference becomes quite clear (other discrepencies are found throughout). Klemperer knew the work of Brahms like few else and even chided himself for composing pieces that sounded more like Brahms than like Klemperer. The Klemperer recording of the Brahms Symphonies is available on EMI Classic's 'Great Recordings of the Century' label and also includeds my favorite rendition of the Alto Rhapsody and a quite good recording of the St. Anthony Variations."

The best

Sam | New Jersey | 05/23/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"We don't have conductors like Szell these days. He was the master of removing all but the music. In the case of Brahms a special challenge is the need to be strong and focused enough not to get self indulgent and bogged down. Rather one must stay true to the music. Few can do this. In addition to these recordings one thinks of the famous Heifetz/Reiner recording of the Brahms violin concerto and the Szell/Fleisher recording of the second Brahms paino concerto. These are all recordings that you can listen to over and over. But there is a danger here. If you get these recordings of the Brahms symphonies you will never be satisfied with any others again."