Search - Johannes Brahms, Karel Ancerl, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra :: Ancerl Gold Edition 31: BRAHMS Double Concerto; Symphony No. 2

Infectiously charmiong readings, especially the Double Conce

Santa Fe Listener | Santa Fe, NM USA | 08/28/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This installment of the Ancerl Gold series begins with an irresistible Brahms Double Concerto. Josef Suk and Andre Navarra possessed the right resiny, soft-grained tone to blend perfectly with the Czech Phil., and they play so sweetly together, with such unaffected charm, that while the performance is underway, you want nothing more or better. The lack of earnestness is rare in this rather melancholy late masterpiece. the slow movement lays the vibrato on very thickly, so beware if you like Brahms "dry." The rhythm in the finale could use more snap, yet in its gentle way it's quite infectious. brahms devoid of self-importance. The refurbished sound from 1963 is excellent, with the soloists miked quite closely, as they usually are in this work, so that the cello has a chance to be fully heard.



The Brahms Second Sym. dates from 1957 and seems just a shade dimmer in sound, although the woodwinds are nicely brought forward. Ancerl proceeds moderately, without much shaping of phrases or rubato -- one is almost reminded of Szell's non-nonsense approach at first. But the sweet sonority of the Czech Phil. can't be repressed, and they are prefectly suited to Brahms's pastroal style -- listen to those tangy winds in the slow movement, here played as a charming dance. Everything flows nicely, and the reading as a whole is agreeable. If only Ancerl had more ideas about the music from bar to bar and movement to movement. brahms contains more seriousness than we hear in this performance. In short, this CD will appeal to listeners who prefer brahms lite."