Brahms: Symphonies 1-4 / Eschenbach

Amazon.com
Christoph Eschenbach's Brahms was generally savaged by the critics, which is a pity because it's very sincere and full of personality. Interpretively, it stands squarely in the German Romantic mode of conductors like Wilhelm Furtwängler and Hermann Abendroth--thick, heavy textures, lots of speeding up and slowing down, and heaps of self-indulgent lyricism. It's magnificently played and recorded, and decidedly not the sort of thing for people who view Brahms as a "classicist." But taken on its own terms, it's hard not to be won over by Eschenbach's conviction and love of the music. --David Hurwitz

Brahms: Symphonies 1-4 / Eschenbach,J. Brahms,Eschenbach,Virgin Records,Choral,Classical,Classical Music,Orchestral,Romantic Overture for Orchestra,Romantic Symphony,Romantic Variations for Orchestra,Secular Aria and Chorus,Symphonic

Average customer rating: A jewel in my collection Great Brahms Cycle From An Unexpected Place The best Brahms for the best price!

Brahms: Symphonies Nos. 1-4 Manufacturer: EMI Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Brahms | Brahms, Johannes | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Romantic | Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Overtures | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Eschenbach, Christoph | ( E ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Houston Symphony Orchestra | ( H ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Similar Items: The Nine Symphonies Bruckner: Symphony No. 6 Mahler: Symphony No. 6; Piano Quartet [Hybrid SACD] Saint-Saëns: Symphony No. 3; Poulenc: Organ Concerto; Barber: Toccata Festiva Beethoven: The Complete Symphonies and Piano Concertos ASIN: B00005TNML Release Date: 2002-05-07

Tracks:

1. Symphony No.1 In C Minor, Op.68: I. Un Poco Sostenuto - Allegro
2. Symphony No.1 In C Minor, Op.68: II. Andante Sostenuto
3. Symphony No.1 In C Minor, Op.68: III. Un Poco Allegretto E Grazioso
4. Symphony No.1 In C Minor, Op.68: IV. Adagio - Piu Andante - Allegro Non Troppo, Ma Con Brio
5. Academic Festival Overture, Op.80

Tracks:

1. Symphony No.2 In D Major, Op.73: I. Allegro Non Troppo
2. Symphony No.2 In D Major, Op.73: II. Adagio Non Troppo
3. Symphony No.2 In D Major, Op.73: III. Allegretto Grazioso (Quasi Andantino) - Presto Ma Non Troppo
4. Symphony No.2 In D Major, Op.73: IV. Allegro Con Spirito
5. Variations On A Theme By Haydn, Op.56a: Chorale (St. Antoni)
6. Variations On A Theme By Haydn, Op.56a: I. Poco Piu Animato
7. Variations On A Theme By Haydn, Op.56a: II. Piu Vivace
8. Variations On A Theme By Haydn, Op.56a: III. Con Moto
9. Variations On A Theme By Haydn, Op.56a: IV. Andante Con Moto
10. Variations On A Theme By Haydn, Op.56a: V. Vivace
11. Variations On A Theme By Haydn, Op.56a: VI. Vivace
12. Variations On A Theme By Haydn, Op.56a: VII. Grazioso
13. Variations On A Theme By Haydn, Op.56a: VIII. Presto Non Troppo
14. Variations On A Theme By Haydn, Op.56a: Finale

Tracks:

1. Symphonie No.3 In F Major, Op.90: I. Allegro Non Troppo
2. Symphonie No.3 In F Major, Op.90: II. Andante Moderato
3. Symphonie No.3 In F Major, Op.90: III. Allegro Giocoso
4. Symphonie No.3 In F Major, Op.90: IV. Allegro Energico E Passionato
5. Alto Rhapsody, Op.53 - Dunja Vejzovic

Tracks:

1. Symphony No.4 In E Minor, Op.98: I. Allegro Non Troppo
2. Symphony No.4 In E Minor, Op.98: II. Andante Moderato
3. Symphony No.4 In E Minor, Op.98: III. Allegro Giocoso
4. Symphony No.4 In E Minor, Op.98: IV. Allegro Energico E Passionato
5. Tragic Overture, Op.81

Customer Reviews:

A jewel in my collection.......2005-11-15

Brahms was the torchbearer of the First Viennese School, holding down tradition's fort in the face of the Liszt/Wagner music of the future. Despite his preference for Classical forms and structure, his temperament was unquestionably Romantic. Brahms resolved these seemingly opposite forces in his music, but realizing Brahms' vision in performance can be elusive. Among the symphony cycles, rarely has Brahms sounded so fully Classical and fully Romantic simultaneously than in this set.

The critical element in Eschenbach's readings is that they are somewhat slower than most, with tempi similar to those of Furtwangler's. This approach allows the thick orchestration to breathe, making it easier to appreciate Brahms' unrivaled mastery of musical architecture. Furthermore, it highlights his imagination while remaining within the confines of the traditional symphonic forms. For the slow movements, it fully showcases Brahms' lyricism that a faster tempo would have glossed over.

I did find the first movement of the Fourth to be a little slow, but it was still within the realm of reasonable interpretation. I'm sure it will grow on me as I listen more.

The inclusion of four add-ons is a nice bonus--most Brahms sets include only the Academic Festival and Tragic Overtures. No revelations here, but they are well performed.

Overall, an unbeatable value.

Great Brahms Cycle From An Unexpected Place.......2003-08-29

It's not all the time that it happens, but every once in a while, a symphonic cycle box set made by an orchestra that is not universally seen as a world-class outfit makes an impact. Such is the case here with this cycle of Brahms' four symphonies and various other works performed here by the Houston Symphony Orchestra under the leadership of Christoph Eschenbach, who served as Music Director from 1989 to 2001.

This Brahms cycle was made during the early 90s, and shows both Eschenbach and the Houston Symphony in top form. Eschenbach observes the first-movement exposition repeats of the first three symphonies, thus making their running times longer (the opening of No. 1 is almost nineteen minutes; that of No. 2 nearly twenty-two; and that of No. 3 over thirteen and a half), but the quality is never sacrificed. Dunja Vejzovic and the male voices of the Houston Symphony Chorus are excellent on the recording of Brahms' early choral work Alto Rhapsody; and the orchestra does good work on the Haydn Variations, the Academic Festival Overture, and the highly charged Tragic Overture.

Given all of this, it is bewildering that it has only been in recent times that the Houston Symphony has achieved the respect it has long deserved. After all, many big names had stood on the podium before Eschenbach: Beecham, Stokowski, Barbirolli, and Previn. But Eschenbach seemed to break through the orchestra board's long-time ultra-conservative musical mentality, and thus he elevated the Houston Symphony to world-class status. The proof can be found in this superbly recorded and superbly priced Brahms set, which is well worth seeking out.

The best Brahms for the best price!.......2002-09-23

When I saw this inexpensive 4cd box set, I knew that I had to get it, especially after hearing Eschenbach's recording of Bruckner's 6th w/Houston SO (the best ever btw). Some conductors (eg. Karajan) try to take you into different worlds in the different symphonies. However Eschenbach takes you to different places withnin the same world, giving the listener a more organic-whole musical listening experience. The rhythms are sharp, the readings are dark (Brahms was a hard-core loner) and intense. The opening of the first sym. reminds me of Klemperer, so deep and powerful. The stings are flawless and full of support. When one looks at set prices like Abbado's...the eschenbach set is one of the best Brahms bargain sets of all time. The filler pieces are equally strong, as are the singers in the alto rhap. A must have for all Brahmsians!!

Average customer rating: Well-done, powerful, precise, yet expressive, never mushy

Brahms: Symphonies 1-4 / Eschenbach J. Brahms , and Eschenbach Manufacturer: Virgin Records Us ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Brahms | Brahms, Johannes | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Romantic | Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Overtures | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Eschenbach, Christoph | ( E ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Houston Symphony Orchestra | ( H ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music ASIN: B000002SSN Release Date: 1997-04-22

Tracks:

1. Sym No.1 Op.68 in c: I. Un Poco Sostenuto - Allegro
2. Sym No.1 Op.68 in c: II. Andante Sostenuto
3. Sym No.1 Op.68 in c: III. Un Poco Allegretto E Grazioso
4. Sym No.1 Op.68 in c: IV. Adagio - Piu Andante - Allegro Non Troppo, Ma Con Brio
5. Academic Festival Ov Op.80

Tracks:

1. Sym No.2 Op.73 in D: I. Allegro Non Troppo
2. Sym No.2 Op.73 in D: II. Adagio Non Troppo
3. Sym No.2 Op.73 in D: III. Allegretto Grazioso (Quasi Andantino) - Presto Ma Non Troppo
4. Sym No.2 Op.73 in D: IV. Allegro Con Spirito
5. Vars On A Theme By Haydn, Op.56a: Chor (St Anthony)
6. Vars On A Theme By Haydn, Op.56a: I. Poco Piu Animato
7. Variations On A Theme By Haydn, Op.56a: II. Piu Vivace
8. Vars On A Theme By Haydn, Op.56a: III. Con Moto
9. Vars On A Theme By Haydn, Op.56a: IV. Andante Con Moto
10. Vars On A Theme By Haydn, Op.56a: V. Vivace
11. Vars On A Theme By Haydn, Op.56a: VI. Vivace
12. Vars On A Theme By Haydn, Op.56a: VII. Grazioso
13. Vars On A Theme By Haydn, Op.56a: VIII. Presto Non Troppo
14. Vars On A Theme By Haydn, Op.56a: Finale

Tracks:

1. Sym No.3 Op.90 in F: I. Allegro Con Brio - Un Poco Sostenuto - Tempo I
2. Sym No.3 Op.90 in F: II. Andante
3. Sym No.3 Op.90 in F: III. Poco Allegretto
4. Sym No.3 Op.90 in F: IV. Allegro - Un Poco Sostenuto
5. Alto Rhapsody, Op.53 - Dunja Vejzovic/Houston Sym Male Chor

Tracks:

1. Sym No.4 Op.98 in e: I. Allegro Non Troppo
2. Sym No.4 Op.98 in e: II. Andante Moderato
3. Sym No.4 Op.98 in e: III. Allegro Giocoso
4. Sym No.4 Op.98 in e: IV Allegro Energico E Passionato
5. Tragic Ov Op.81

Amazon.com

Christoph Eschenbach's Brahms was generally savaged by the critics, which is a pity because it's very sincere and full of personality. Interpretively, it stands squarely in the German Romantic mode of conductors like Wilhelm Furtwängler and Hermann Abendroth--thick, heavy textures, lots of speeding up and slowing down, and heaps of self-indulgent lyricism. It's magnificently played and recorded, and decidedly not the sort of thing for people who view Brahms as a "classicist." But taken on its own terms, it's hard not to be won over by Eschenbach's conviction and love of the music. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Well-done, powerful, precise, yet expressive, never mushy.......1999-05-30

I have become a Brahms fan in the last few years, partly because of the good privilege of having Eschenbach as our conductor in Houston for these 11 years. Eschenbach makes every detail come forth. Even with his great expressiveness and lyricism that are so much a part of Brahms, Eschenbach never sounds mushy (like one recording I heard today), one reason I used to find Brahms dreadfully boring. Eschenbach brings out the rich sounding bass, one feature that sets Brahms apart from other composers. Eschenbach also performs with a high level of energy, an important part of German music. Eschenbach's Brahms tempos admittedly are slow (his live performance of the German Requiem in 1990 ran over 80 minutes), but given everything else he has to offer, it brings a dimension that helped transform Brahms from dreadfully boring to one of my top 3 (Heinrich Schütz and Bach are the other 2).

Music Review:

1. Brahms: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 3
2. Britten: 4 Sea Interludes; Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra; Sinfonia da Requiem
3. Chopin: Preludes, Op. 28; Cantabile; Nocturnes; Contredanse
4. Chopin: Études & Ballades
5. Debussy: La Mer - Chausson: Poème de l'amour et de la mer - Ravel: Une barque sur l'océan / W. Meier, Muti
6. Dufay: Se la Face ay Pale
7. Dvorak: Symphony No.9
8. Dvorak: Symphony No. 9 "From the New World"; Romance for Violin; Carnival Overture
9. Dvorak: Wind and String Serenades
10. Elgar: Pomp and Circumstance Marches / Cockaigne Overture / Menuhin

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