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Brahms: Symphony No. 4; Tragic Overture; Schicksalslied
Johannes Brahms, Bruno Walter, Columbia Symphony Orchestra
Brahms: Symphony No. 4; Tragic Overture; Schicksalslied
Genre: Classical
 
  •  Track Listings (6) - Disc #1

The Columbia Symphony may not have been a first-class orchestra, but Bruno Walter trained to do the right things, and it responded with first-class accounts of these symphonies. While there are instances of less-than-stell...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Johannes Brahms, Bruno Walter, Columbia Symphony Orchestra
Title: Brahms: Symphony No. 4; Tragic Overture; Schicksalslied
Members Wishing: 1
Total Copies: 0
Label: Sony
Original Release Date: 1/1/1988
Re-Release Date: 10/31/1995
Album Type: Original recording reissued
Genre: Classical
Styles: Opera & Classical Vocal, Historical Periods, Modern, 20th, & 21st Century, Symphonies
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 074646447222

Synopsis

Amazon.com
The Columbia Symphony may not have been a first-class orchestra, but Bruno Walter trained to do the right things, and it responded with first-class accounts of these symphonies. While there are instances of less-than-stellar ensemble work, there is also some very fine first-desk playing, and the performances as a whole are marked by a natural feeling of movement, phrasing, and expression. Walter's approach to the music is kindly, caring, wonderfully whole--sunny but not overly brilliant, warm but not overly heated, sincere but not overly impassioned, and above all gemtlich. Anyone who thinks that means the conductor was slow, shapeless, or indulgent should listen. There is thrust here, and plenty of momentum. The recordings, made between 1959 and 1961, are closely miked and somewhat bass-heavy, but have benefitted immensely from Sony's state-of-the-art remastering. Considering the vintage, the sound is wonderfully alive and direct. --Ted Libbey

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CD Reviews

A good reference
Gorky | 02/04/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Walter recorded his Brahms cycle in 1960 and the sound recording is as good as what we may have today. The reason of it, Walter had a real sense of the polyphony which is characterized by the perfect balance between violin and cello ( i do not agree too much with Amazon that bass are heavy, i would say deep, and use a good set of headphones) and the sound deployed by his orchestra is the most adapted for Brahms symphonies, where alternance of bass and treble strings are permanent. This is always the version i install on my CD player since it is the most natural and sounds, melody go straight to your heart. There is no secret: listen for the first time, if it is good it should "tilt", and this one does! I got many others (famous Kleiber version, Szell....) but this one is by far my favourite. Sony did a perfect remastering like they did for most of stereo records of the Walter Edition, keeping sound of the Columbia orchestra natural and impressive. We can recommend this record for his authenticity and believe me, it is brilliant. Definitely a reference."
The most exciting "Tragic Overture" on disc?
niveditahr | 07/31/1999
(4 out of 5 stars)

"An exciting and skilled interpretation of Brahms' "Tragic Overture". Walter's control of the orchestra is superb. This is one of those occasions where the performance rises above the music. The recording of the fourth symphony is good, but not great. Kleiber (on DG) Haitink with Boston (on Philips) are better. Buy this disc for the "Tragic Overture"."