[flamencosketches]

Solti/CSO is on the way to me right now. I had it once upon a time and used to enjoy it, but this is well before I knew anything about classical music; I used to listen to it to fall asleep.

The other cycles I have are Klemperer/Philharmonia (this is the set that made everything "click" with me for Brahms), Alsop/LPO (excellent) and Jochum/LPO (minus the 4th, which is difficult to find on a single disc). Funny, all British orchestras. Well, they all do a great job of the music.

 

[starthrower]

Solti/CSO is on the way to me right now. I had it once upon a time and used to enjoy it, but this is well before I knew anything about classical music; I used to listen to it to fall asleep.

The Solti is my fave of the four cycles I have. The others being Sanderling, Sawallisch, and Bernstein. I hope you enjoy it this time around.

 

[kuniklo]

Just to toss in one more opinion, I first tried to get acquainted with the Brahms symphonies via the Chailly set and never really connected with them. Lately I've been listening to the Klemperer and the Levine sets and find myself much more engaged and able to follow Brahms' musical arguments. Brahms' music can make a lot of abrupt turns and to my ears Chailly doesn't handle them as well.

 

[Joek Baron]

Just to toss in one more opinion, I first tried to get acquainted with the Brahms symphonies via the Chailly set and never really connected with them. Lately I've been listening to the Klemperer and the Levine sets and find myself much more engaged and able to follow Brahms' musical arguments. Brahms' music can make a lot of abrupt turns and to my ears Chailly doesn't handle them as well.

Levine and Klemperer are both excellent in Brahms and it’s a very good place to start. When you feel like venturing out the cycles that are also essential IMO are Walter/CSO & Jochum/LPO. Those 4 cycles are the crème de la crème

 

[.46190]

Well I loved these pressings on Command. Will have to go find the CD remastering from DGG.

 

[wkasimer]

Just to toss in one more opinion, I first tried to get acquainted with the Brahms symphonies via the Chailly set and never really connected with them. Lately I've been listening to the Klemperer and the Levine sets and find myself much more engaged and able to follow Brahms' musical arguments. Brahms' music can make a lot of abrupt turns and to my ears Chailly doesn't handle them as well.

Which Chailly recording? There are two - the earlier one with the Concertgebouw is pretty routine, but I like the more recent one with the Gewandhaus.

 

[kuniklo]

Which Chailly recording? There are two - the earlier one with the Concertgebouw is pretty routine, but I like the more recent one with the Gewandhaus.

The Gewandhaus one. For whatever reason after listening to this several times I was starting to think I'm just not a fan of Brahms' symphonies but I like them in other recordings.

The first movement of #4 is an example. There's a bunch of thematic shifts in the first two minutes and they sound very abrupt (to me) in Chailly.

 

[kuniklo]

Levine and Klemperer are both excellent in Brahms and it’s a very good place to start. When you feel like venturing out the cycles that are also essential IMO are Walter/CSO & Jochum/LPO. Those 4 cycles are the crème de la crème

Thanks I'll put those on the list. I like Jochum a lot in other repertoire.