Search - Johannes Brahms, Leonard Bernstein, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra :: Brahms: Symphony No 1, Academic Overture / Bernstein

A solid and powerful performance

cmk | Oregon | 03/12/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Lenny and the Vienna Phil bring to us a powerful, romantic, performance of arguably Brahms greatest symphony. This is definately not a Szell-style interpretation(as are probably none of Bernstein's interpretations of anything by anyone). Right from the opening bars, you can hear the BUM BUM BUM of the timpani very well. I always love a recording with well-definited percussion ensemble. Bernstein, wisely, keeps the repeat in the first movement. I can live without repeats, but I do prefer that they be in there. The second movement is done a little slower then normal. It's not a super-classical interpretation, but Lenny doesn't destroy it by getting hyper-romantic, either, as he too often does. He finds a happy medium. The last movement is a spectacular display, both in musical content and performance. It starts out dark and ominous in minor but then goes into a beautiful C major theme and ends in a blaze of glory with a thunderous C Major chord. For a real thrill ride, listen to the last 3 minutes of the piece on your stereo with the volume cranked up as loud as possible without blowing out the speakers. The only complaining you will hear will be from the neighbors. Plus, you get the Academic Festival overture. It's a good piece and a nice filler. The sound quality is very good. I would note that the Vienna Phil's playing is dynamite, but you probably already guessed that, since it is in almost every recording done by them. And it all comes at only 12 bucks. As the previous reviewer said, if you have never heard any of Brahms music before or are fairly new to it, this disc has your name on it. What more could you ask for? Essential."

Incredibly Charged Brahms

Trevor Gillespie | San Jose, California United States | 12/14/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the true Romantic Brahms filled with power, beauty, depth, and emotion. Bernstein really has delivered to us a knockout performance of the first symphony. Of course it helps to have an orchestra like the Wiener Philharmoniker adding to the performance. And what a wonderful job they do. They have such a rich beautiful sound in the string section, and DG captures all the details. Particularly impressive is how they capture the strokes on the tympani---closer than some recordings and full of more presence and clarity. With the beginning of this symphony you can tell that it will be a little different from most performances, but if you let yourself be open to it, you'll find an incredibly satisifying performance. The climax of the last movement is breathtaking, filled with raw power that has you on the edge of your seat begging that the symphony continue on just a little more. These are my thoughts at least. If you have heard this symphony before, hear it again in this performance. If you haven't heard it, this is a great place to start."

A review for the rest of us

Trevor Gillespie | 03/19/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"A lot of these classical music reviews get bogged down in arguing one conductor's interpretation over another; sometimes I think too much so. All I will say is this: it is a superbly recorded CD by an excellent ensemble and a reknowned conductor. I have never regretted spending the money I did for this CD, and I recommend it for anyone who is looking to explore the music of brahms."