 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: D Dow
Date: 2003-06-04 15:31
Just got the chance to buy the Szell Cleveland cycle of the Brahms symphonies in the digital Cd format and can say it is now my favorite interpretation. Only No. 1 is the sound not top flite, but these are desert island discs for sure...the knife edged ensemble and the beauty of the No. 3 is really the finest recording I have heard of the F Major symphony///
A few things that I truly love in the cycle are
In NO.1 The thrust and pace of Movement 1 and the wonderful solo in the 2cd movement by Marcellus.
In No2 overall a very sunny reading with an awesome finale. Cleveland sounds so good here!!!
No. 3 My favorite interpretation because Szell allows the music to flow without all that fussing Karajan tends to do in the ending of phrases....
No4 Truly awesome...the tempi are judged nice. Not too fast...a really great example of the fineness of the cleveland orchestra strings...
The finale is riveting...l
I notice a few things from listening...the epic conception of the works Not unlike Klemperer in many ways. I also love the brass sound and blend...
I think I will keep these discs beside my beloved Klemperer readings as well......
David Dow
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Author: Nick Angiolillo
Date: 2003-06-04 16:34
I don't even think I've heard this recording yet.
Cleveland/Szell is my favourite orchestral combo! I find that Szell's pacing is always dead on with what I prefer.
Brahms's symphonies are some of my favourites. I love the string melody in the 4th movement of No. 1. I can't wait to hear it!
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2003-06-04 16:38
David -
I didn't like these performances on LP. They seemed anemic. When I got them on CD, they were thrilling. Epic LPs were cut very "hot" and saturated, so they apparently had to reduce the bass to avoid distortion. That problem was solved on the CDs. They're truly great performances.
The Szell/Cleveland Schumann symphonies get the same improvement.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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Author: cyso_clarinetist
Date: 2003-06-04 17:38
Personally it is my favorite recording of the brahms symphonies as well but then again I am very partial to marcellus's playing. His playing is so simplistically beautiful but at the same time so very complex. What is even better about these CD's is that they are so cheap! I believe they are about eight dollar's a CD. I am not sure why but it agrees with my budget. If you liked the brahms cycle perhaps you should consider purchasing the beethoven cycle as well.
- James
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Author: Leonard Buchanan
Date: 2003-06-05 02:54
The Szell/Cleveland orchestra is renound for their technical perfection, (mainly due to Szell himself, who strikes me as a kind of dictator) and while there are moments of beauty in the phrasings with Szell, his performances just can't match up to the somewhat outdated recordings of Furtwangler with the Vienna/Berlin Philharmonic orchestras. A bit melodramatic at times, but I tend to like wallowing those those moments that seethe with brooding energy and an overriding sense of tragedy.
But that's just as a set. Individual symphonies have had their share of masestros who's raised them to ledgendary levels.
No.1 of Szell's is something I haven't heard, but until then, the version with Karajan and Gunter Wand I find to be the most introspective ones.
No.2 I think I'll agree with David and go with the Klemperer recordings on this one. That sense of natrual grace and ease and lets everything come into place perfectly.
No.3 Bruno Walter, hands down.
No.4 Carlos Kleiber doesn't go into the recording studio often, but when he does, it often produces thrilling results. This recording of DG captured one of them.
-Leonard
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