Here you go... Chailly recent cycle is worth it.

Elegant, restrained, and fairly close to the Brahms scores.

 

I have 2 cycles, Abbado/BPO and Haitink/RCO, and I'm trying to buy another one because I love the pieces so much. I have come down to Chailly and Dohnanyi/Cleveland. I've heard the former and I know I love it; the later has terrific reviews but I can't find sample so I don't know if I will like it, although I do love the conductor and orchestra so I probably will have a pleasant surprise with that route.

Which one should I choose? Have you heard both? How do they compare?

What led you to narrow the very wide field down to Chailly and Dohnanyi? There are some legendary Brahms recordings out there. Do you tend to shy away from recordings from the 50s and 60s because of the sound quality?

 

I second Chaily's recording again... yes there are legendary recordings from the 50s and 60s but the OP has requested that we select between the two cycles he or she is suggesting here.

 

Sound quality is important to me, but that's not the main point here. I just wanted to add a newer recording to my collection, and I've chosen Chailly over Rattle and Thielemann. However in that process I found great reviews about this Dohnanyi cycle so that's why I haven't decided yet. I'm open to other choices but that just make things even more difficult.

 

Thanks for your response. While most of my favorite Brahms recordings are mono, if you're willing to consider other stereo cycles, here is one that is very good and also very inexpensive at Amazon. As a bonus, the set includes the D-Minor concerto and German Requiem. It was recorded with the Chicago Symphony during the Solti era, probably in the mid to late 70s when Levine was recording with the CSO and Philadelphia Orchestra for RCA.

 

I will also put in a good word for Chailly's cycle.

 

Personally, of the newer recordings of Brahms' symphonies, I like Gardiner's HIP approach:

Beyond that, I too prefer older recordings.

 

Boult, Celibidache, Furtwangler.
And Carlos Kleiber for 4 (and 2 on video) are compulsory.
Graeme

 

I know you want to have newer recordings, and I do understand that, but this one is often available at too-good-to-refuse prices:

I am not an expert and have little to go by, in the way of comparisons, but this is a very satisfying set. Considering that the two you already have are 'newer' ones, this 'older' one wouldn't be out of place. While I don't usually like to go much before 1960, due to primitive recording technology, this set is still well within the range of serious consideration, as far as sound quality goes. The Haydn Variations date from 1955, the Alto Rhapsody from 1962, and the rest of the album, including the 4 Symphonies, from 1958.

From Archiv Music:

Otto Klemperer's Brahms needs no introduction. It remains a classic reference edition, one of the very few complete cycles with absolutely no weak links. It's customary to call these performances "granitic", an adjective that certainly applies to the First Symphony but doesn't begin to describe the swift and thrilling finale of the Fourth, the grand but impulsive Third (with its first-movement repeat in place), or the warmly lyrical Second. In general Klemperer's unsentimental but always gripping approach to this music practically defines the word "idiomatic". The Alto Rhapsody with Christa Ludwig also is one of the great ones, while the shorter works share the same virtues as the symphonies. The sound shows its age a bit, but it has been well remastered in this latest transfer (which differs only marginally from previous issues). A Great Recording of the Century indeed! [4/28/2004]

 

Thank you for all your suggestions. I'm quite familiar with Klemperer's Brahms, it's probably one of the most famous performance recorded.

For the 2 cycles I originately intended to get, it seems like Chailly gets all the vote and Dohnanyi gets no love.

 

Thank you for all your suggestions. I'm quite familiar with Klemperer's Brahms, it's probably one of the most famous performance recorded.

For the 2 cycles I originately intended to get, it seems like Chailly gets all the vote and Dohnanyi gets no love.

You are welcome. Of course, whenever you get a chance after you hear Chailly's version of his Brahms symphonies, you ought to check out his disc of Brahms serenades too. They are just so wonderful!

 

I second the Klemperer. My other favorite cycle is Kurt Sanderling andthe Dresden Staatkapelle. I recently purchased the Manze/Helsingborg SACD set which is swift and somewhat HIPP. Also in SACD, the Janowski/PSO set on Pentatone is very good. For historical sets I go to Furtwangler on Music and Arts. Avoid the Masur/Leipzig SACD cycle.

 

I just talked to my roommate Ben and he said that his favorite version was the Toscanini with NBC Symphony Orchestra recordings in case historical recordings interest you.

 

I know you made your decision already but I will speak up for Dohnanyi as being one of the best cycles around.

I have over 40 Brahms cycles because of my absolute love for Brahms' Symphonies.

If I had to narrow it down to 2 recordings, Levine (Chicago) and Klemperer would be my recommendations of the two cycles that must be owned. Both are "Astounding" and of the highest caliber and in my opinion give you the 2 best visions of Brahms. They are 11's on a scale of 10.

Just below those Top 2 would be the amazing recordings from Wand, Dohnanyi, Abbado, Jochum (London), Levine (Vienna), and Sanderling (Dresden). They are all perfect 10's and are the absolute top shelf and are in a league of their own.

Furtwangler and Toscanini are of course both interesting to hear, but if you wanted a Mono recording I would take Jochum's Berlin recordings on DG over both.

I will again be the lone person who feels Chailly missed the mark with his cycle. It's good, don't get me wrong and I've heard far worse, but compared to any of the above it's an 8 out of 10. Listen to the first movement of the 2nd Symphony or the slow movement of the 4th and compare it to ANY of those listed above. Albert said "Elegant & Restrained" and I would add "Lacking Character, Impersonal and Anti-Climatic at times". Symphony 3 is probably the high point of the set.

It sounds like I'm being very hard on Chailly and I don't mean it to sound that way. It's a very crowded field with lots of choices and Chailly's new cycle is a "Good" cycle, but for me and others I know it missed the mark on being a truly "Great" one, like any of the others I mentioned.

 

I heard the Chailly 4th on internet Radio and it left me a little wanting. The critical response has been all over the map for his cycle--from ecstatic to dismissive

 

I have cycles by Szell, Celibidache and Karajan, that I have listened to and Wand, that I have, so far, not, so based upon realdealblues's comments above, I have something to look forward to.

I enjoyed all of the above cycles and couldn't find anything negative about any of them, although be aware that Celibidache is a bit like 'Marmite' (not sure of the non-UK equivalent) for many posters; one either loves or hates it/him, with very few undecided or indifferent. I really like him and he is certainly different.

So far, with pretty well all works, not just Brahms, I have found Szell's recordings with the Cleveland Orchestra to be exemplary, so perhaps another one to consider.

 

Hey guys, I just found out I can get the entire Chailly cycle on ONE bluray disc! And the price is much lower! Unfortunately it seems like many people have problem with this disc.

Also I wish they package the bluray disc in a regular CD size case, so I can fit it nicely on my CD rack. There's no point to put it in a movie package.

http://www.amazon.com/Brahms-Symphonies-Blu-ray-Audio-Beethoven/dp/B00M3IVE1Q/

 

I bought Chailly cycle in Studio Quality FLAC 96/24. It sound amazing with The Squeezebox Touch system.

http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/r/Decca/4785344#download

 

I am a relative novice and have just one cycle (Karajan 1980s - cheap on Amazon). Have to say I love it - especially 2, the only one I have really got to know well.
Am I a fool? Where should I go next? I'd say I'm more at the lyrical than the bombastic end of the spectrum, and that sound quality is fairly important. Thanks!

 

Karajan is Karajan. I love Karajan for who he was, but although he's known for his German Romantic recordings, I think he was better at other things. If you're looking for another cycle to try I say get the James Levine w/Chicago one. It's very inexpensive now, like $12 on Amazon. Sound quality is very good. I hear so many details that I don't hear on many other recordings and the actual sound of the Chicago Symphony lends itself perfectly to being able to hear all those little details in Brahms' thickly textured orchestration.

 

A great set!

(Oops, I have just noticed you have already this one... )

 

I know it's awful to ask a certain question and then have everybody else coming to stretch out your options...

I have Chaily in my collection and I do believe it is a fine circle ... you cannot go wrong by choosing it ... However, when looking for complete circles, one can miss alot ... Eg. the excellent 1 & 2 by Ivan Fischer (also great audiophile pressing) and Jurowski's 3 & 4 ...

Anyway, when in the future you find some time, keep an eye for the best third ever, the one by Barbirolli ....

 

Levine CSO, Kempe (Munich), Beinum Concertgebouw great (some Beinum is mono), Kertesz, Klemperer Warner formerly EMI, Bouit EMI. There are many very good ones. Solti, Kertesz, Chailly, Wand, Raiskin. I will not mention mono ones. I cant get too excited about Dohnanyi, Szell, maybe personal preference.. There is the Abbado first cycle (tower.jp) which is odd, as the first great others not as much. His BPO one not my preference. Thanks, Bill

 

I was out and about a couple of days ago and found this old HMV Boult set in a charity shop. As it was priced at next-to-nothing I bought it; but what's the opinion of people here who are far more familiar with Brahms than I am?

 

I was out and about a couple of days ago and found this old HMV Boult set in a charity shop. As it was priced at next-to-nothing I bought it; but what's the opinion of people here who are far more familiar with Brahms than I am?

View attachment 67681

I don't have an opinion about the box set, but MusicWeb has a couple of reviews:

• http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2000/may00/brahmsboult.htm
• http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2002/Sept02/Brahms_Boult_EMI.htm

 

Kurt Sanderling and the Dresden Staatkapelle is recommendable. When this was released, many friends of mine bought and listened to it, I remember. Especially their sound was warm and woodwinds were beautiful. But I only listened to the 1st one. When I want to listen to Brahms is limited to the weather & climate. In autumn and winter, I often want to listen to his music which reminds me of his grimace. Have you ever listened to the 4th played by Eduart van Beinum & ACO and the 3rd played by Sir John Barbirolli & VPO. The consistency of tempo of the former(rather a little fast) and the melancholic mood of the latter might attract you.

 

Kurt Sanderling and the Dresden Staatkapelle is recommendable. When this was released, many friends of mine bought and listened to it, I remember. Especially their sound was warm and woodwinds were beautiful. But I only listened to the 1st one. When I want to listen to Brahms is limited to the weather & climate. In autumn and winter, I often want to listen to his music which reminds me of his grimace. Have you ever listened to the 4th played by Eduart van Beinum & ACO and the 3rd played by Sir John Barbirolli & VPO. The consistency of tempo of the former(rather a little fast) and the melancholic mood of the latter might attract you.

The Sanderling is my go to set.

 

George Szell is one of my favorite dependable conductor who had a broad repertoire from Haydn's symphonies to small pieces by Prokofiev or Bartok. However I don't know why he did not succeed in playing Brahms. CBS recordings were not satisfactory and even the live recordings at Cleveland sold on some anniversary were tremendously disastrous. There're only four symphonies written by this Hamburg-born person. So you might choose any alternative for any one of them. I choose Haitink & ACO for the 1st, and Karajan & BPO(his older recording)for the 2nd, and Sir John Barbilolli & VPO for the 3rd, and Eduard van Beinum & ACO for the 4th.

 

I like Kleiber, Wand and Solti, myself. I also have Harnoncourt's, based on several glowing reviews, but I did not care for it too much - it's on the experimental side. He shortens a lot of phrases, especially. Now that I think about it, I bet Klemperer's Brahms are great, he is just the conductor I want to hear in that music.

 

I have Klemperer in nos.3 and 4 and like them very much. Some of the tempi are a touch slower than one might hear elsewhere but they seem to me to suit the music well. No.3 is my favourite Brahms symphony and I don't recall hearing it done better at any time.

 

What do you think of Dorati with the LSO for 3 of the symphonies and the Minneapolis SO for the other one? They are in the third Mercury Living Presence Collector's Edition box set which I have just ordered.

 

Nice to see some references above to Jochum and the LPO on EMI - my first Brahms cycle and one I still return to: passionate and beautifully-played.