Search - Brahms, Halasz, Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra :: Symphony 4 / Academic Festival Overture

Problematic, but not unlistenable

Chosroes III | NC | 06/07/2010

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This 1988 attempt from Michael Halasz and the Slovak Philharmonic hardly stands as a peak achievement among the SPO/Capella Istropolitana's series of recordings for Naxos and affiliates (here Amadis, nee Lydian), yet it's not unbearable for me or without a certain level of interest and charm.



The sluggish reading of the 1st movement is certainly underwhelming. Perhaps Halasz wanted to experiment with a very 'deliberate' kind of pace, but the result is that the music has nothing like the kind of rhythmic drive and tempestuous, inward-looking energy it needs. It's not the worst kind of trainwreck, but it feels inadequate and clearly not optimal.



But the further movements come off better, with much of the shimmering, deeply emotive lyricism of the 2nd movement evident (I managed to get teary-eyed as usual),and something more like the expected fire in the 3rd.



Brahms' Fourth is, to my ears, one of the most mysterious and occult works that can claim membership in the canon of Viennese Classicism. I still find the symphony elusive, perhaps vaguely maddening even in the most 'accepted' of performances, so perhaps that's why I'm more forgiving. The Slovak Philharmonic has a lovely string-tone, sweet and 'transparent', and to some extend Halasz' interpretation may remind me a bit of Sawallisch's, which I also embrace. Even through the questionable opening movement here, I listen with a certain interest, and perhaps after all it represents an 'alternative' point of view worth considering. This is not a canonical recording, but I wouldn't chuck it out the window. Enough of Brahms' enigmatic vision comes through to make it moving and enjoyable-- though its full splendor must be sought out elsewhere."