What are you listening to?

[Jose Echenique]

Brahms - Schicksalied & Symphony No.3 (Claudio Abbado, Ernst-Senff-Chor/Berliner Philharmoniker, Deutsche Grammophon)

From Batiz to Abbado. Now, this is MUCH better. Abbado´s Third is one of the finest ever, one that can stand comparison with Walter, Klemperer or Furtwängler.

[Ciaran]

Brahms - Schicksalied & Symphony No.3 (Claudio Abbado, Ernst-Senff-Chor/Berliner Philharmoniker, Deutsche Grammophon)

From Batiz to Abbado. Now, this is MUCH better. Abbado´s Third is one of the finest ever, one that can stand comparison with Walter, Klemperer or Furtwängler.

Hi PEpe and Darrren: I have Abbado's Brahms 3 which I enjoy very much, and have seen recommended many times in comparative discussions of that work. Should I get the rest of Abbado's Brahms?

[Ciaran]

Schoenberg: Verklarte Nacht....





....beautifully intense.

I love that CD. I must play it again soon, it's been a while.

[Seán]

Brahms - Schicksalied & Symphony No.3 (Claudio Abbado, Ernst-Senff-Chor/Berliner Philharmoniker, Deutsche Grammophon)

From Batiz to Abbado. Now, this is MUCH better. Abbado´s Third is one of the finest ever, one that can stand comparison with Walter, Klemperer or Furtwängler.

Almost everything by Abbado is worth getting, bless him.

[Jose Echenique]

I´m also an unconditional Abbado fan, but if I have to be honest I would say that the Second and Third symphonies are the outstanding performances of his Brahms cycle. The First and especially the Fourth were not as successful. On the other hand, the Haydn Variations and the choral works are also very fine.
The Harnoncourt Brahms cycle also with the Berlin Philharmonic is a safer recommendation. Every performance is outstanding, and the TELDEC sound is superb, but it´s great that you have the Abbado Third symphony, a glorious recording, perhaps you should add the Second too that includes a heavenly version of the Alto Rhapsody with Marjana Lipovsek..

[Jose Echenique]

This is perhaps the finest work by Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach that I know, a very, very beautiful Easter oratorio. The recording made in 1983 is excellent and has not aged, the playing, the singing and Sigiswald Kuijken´s conducting are all superb. Much recommended.

[Seán]

I´m also an unconditional Abbado fan, but if I have to be honest I would say that the Second and Third symphonies are the outstanding performances of his Brahms cycle. The First and especially the Fourth were not as successful. On the other hand, the Haydn Variations and the choral works are also very fine.
The Harnoncourt Brahms cycle also with the Berlin Philharmonic is a safer recommendation. Every performance is outstanding, and the TELDEC sound is superb, but it´s great that you have the Abbado Third symphony, a glorious recording, perhaps you should add the Second too that includes a heavenly version of the Alto Rhapsody with Marjana Lipovsek..

Pepe, I was not fond of Brahms music for a long time because the only recordings that I had of Brahms' Symphonic works were those by Wolfgang Sawallisch conducting the London Philharmonic Orchestra, they are very heavy, gloopy, dreary performances and no matter how much I tried I never liked them. Jared urged me not to give up on Brahms and at the same time you recommended the Harnoncourt/BPO set, well that certainly worked for me. The Harnoncourt cycle is terrific and provided a lovely contrast with the Levine/CSO cycle that I acquired at the same time. So do please consider this post as another endorsement of the Harnoncourt/BPO cycle.

[bombasticDarren]

Tchaikovsky - Piano Concerto No.1 (Bernd Glemser/Antoni Wit, Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Naxos)

[Jose Echenique]

I´m also an unconditional Abbado fan, but if I have to be honest I would say that the Second and Third symphonies are the outstanding performances of his Brahms cycle. The First and especially the Fourth were not as successful. On the other hand, the Haydn Variations and the choral works are also very fine.
The Harnoncourt Brahms cycle also with the Berlin Philharmonic is a safer recommendation. Every performance is outstanding, and the TELDEC sound is superb, but it´s great that you have the Abbado Third symphony, a glorious recording, perhaps you should add the Second too that includes a heavenly version of the Alto Rhapsody with Marjana Lipovsek..

Pepe, I was not fond of Brahms music for a long time because the only recordings that I had of Brahms' Symphonic works were those by Wolfgang Sawallisch conducting the London Philharmonic Orchestra, they are very heavy, gloopy, dreary performances and no matter how much I tried I never liked them. Jared urged me not to give up on Brahms and at the same time you recommended the Harnoncourt/BPO set, well that certainly worked for me. The Harnoncourt cycle is terrific and provided a lovely contrast with the Levine/CSO cycle that I acquired at the same time. So do please consider this post as another endorsement of the Harnoncourt/BPO cycle.

I know Sean, and I´m very happy that Harnoncourt solved the problem.
I think the calamity with the Sawallisch recordings was the muddy, cloudy EMI sound. Not good in general and the kiss of death for Brahms.
But one can live quite happy with the lucid, luscious and lovely Harnoncourt cycle.

[fergus]

I´m also an unconditional Abbado fan, but if I have to be honest I would say that the Second and Third symphonies are the outstanding performances of his Brahms cycle. The First and especially the Fourth were not as successful. On the other hand, the Haydn Variations and the choral works are also very fine.
The Harnoncourt Brahms cycle also with the Berlin Philharmonic is a safer recommendation. Every performance is outstanding, and the TELDEC sound is superb, but it´s great that you have the Abbado Third symphony, a glorious recording, perhaps you should add the Second too that includes a heavenly version of the Alto Rhapsody with Marjana Lipovsek..

Pepe, I was not fond of Brahms music for a long time because the only recordings that I had of Brahms' Symphonic works were those by Wolfgang Sawallisch conducting the London Philharmonic Orchestra, they are very heavy, gloopy, dreary performances and no matter how much I tried I never liked them. Jared urged me not to give up on Brahms and at the same time you recommended the Harnoncourt/BPO set, well that certainly worked for me. The Harnoncourt cycle is terrific and provided a lovely contrast with the Levine/CSO cycle that I acquired at the same time. So do please consider this post as another endorsement of the Harnoncourt/BPO cycle.

I know Sean, and I´m very happy that Harnoncourt solved the problem.
I think the calamity with the Sawallisch recordings was the muddy, cloudy EMI sound. Not good in general and the kiss of death for Brahms.
But one can live quite happy with the lucid, luscious and lovely Harnoncourt cycle.

My first Brahms cycle was by Sanderling and it was really awful; It put me off the Brahms symphonies for years. I then discovered the Mackerras cycle and that did it for me. I also endorse that Harnoncourt cycle....I think that it is excellent!