Search - Johannes Brahms, Claudio Abbado, Michael Steinberg :: Brahms: Tragic Overture Op.81/Song of Destiny Op.54/Symphony No.3

There's something wrong with this 3rd

Gregory M. Zinkl | Chicago, IL | 07/24/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I can understand the acclaim this recording has garnered. And while I'm listening to the performance, I'm in total agreement. BUT, when the stereo goes off, I remember nothing of significance about the interpretation. Sure, the Berlin Philharmonic is the gorgeous instrument it usually is; the engineering is fine, and there is nothing controversial about the performance. But is this all Brahms had on the page? No, I don't think so. I think the problem is that Abbado gave us the notes on the page, coupled with some beautiful orchestral execution, but nothing else. Superficial, perhaps. My favorite 3rd is Walter's on Sony, orchestral flaws (Columbia Sym) and everything. Karajan's 70s cycle on DG had a fun 3rd, and I just saw that Horenstein has a recording out with SW German Radio Orchestra. All I bet are better than this first-class engineered disc.Finally, Tragic Overture is nothing special, either. HOWEVER, the choral piece is memorable, and is worth keeping. The climax is overwhelming. If you can borrow this disc for that piece alone, I'd recommend you do that!"

Soggy

RaleighObserver | Eastern USA | 04/19/2004

(1 out of 5 stars)

"Beautiful playing, gorgeous sound. That will only take us so far. Abbado's rhythms have no spring to them, the orchestral colors are homoganized, the whole thing sounds slack. This isn't just a matter of tempi, although Abbado's are on the slow side. It's a matter of vision. Abbado here gives us an overly-romatic, non-ideomatic interpretation. There's little here of the Brahms who took long walks, smoked cigars and had to make his own coffee because no-one else made it strong enough for him. There's even less of the Brahms who sought the fusion of romantic sentiment into classical form. I've played this symphony and listened to many interpretations, and this is one doesn't suit my taste or what I read in the notes I played. For a bracing alternative, check out Klemperer's account on EMI, or Walter's, or Horenstein's. Even Bernstein gives us more authentic Brahms than this. Two stars for the orchestra and engineers."