Search - Johannes Brahms, Wolfgang Sawallisch, London Philharmonic Orchestra :: Brahms: Symphonies Nos. 1-4; Variations on a Theme by Haydn; Tragic Overture; Academic Festival Overture; Schicksalsl

Standard readings, but the price is amazing

Santa Fe Listener | Santa Fe, NM USA | 10/31/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"It's hard to believe that EMI is willing to offer Brahms' four symphonies, along with generous fillers, for the price of a single CD. Sawallisch was referred to by The Gramophone as a "wise and skillful practitioner," which is a nice way of saying that he's no Furtwangler or Karajan. But the London Phil. plays well for him, the sonics are good, and every interpretation is solid. The First Sym. needs much ore energy and commitment than this easy-going reading delivers, but in the Second, with its more pastoral contours, Sawallisch's style works well.



I will admit that my attention wndered during the serviceable Third, and nothing remarkable happened in the Fourth, either. I'd rank this set on a par with Mrin Alsop's recent traversal, also with the London Phil. and the price is lower. We could spend some time asking what happened to the career of Sawallisch, who started out with tremendous promise in the Fifties and wound up a routine kapellmeister. For anyone who wants a super-bargain set of the Brahms symphonies, that's beside the point.



If I were comparison shopping, I'd look into rival budget sets from Karajan, Szell, Muti, and Eschenbach. All have different approaches, but in the end the buyer would wind up with top-notch orchestras and, of course, great music.



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