Search - Johannes Brahms, Charles Mackerras, Scottish Chamber Orchestra :: Brahms: Symphony No. 1; Academic Festival Overture

Good but raw

David J. Friedlander | 03/13/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I enjoyed hearing this "new" version of Brahm's 1, however two things make this less than a perfect CD. First, the stereo recording is exagerated, as though the mics were on opposite ends of the stage. I am used to near perfect stereo imaging from Telarc, so this was unfortunate. Second, the performance has an edginess or rawness that at times can be irritating. Possibly this is due to the different brass to strings ratio than I am used to. Despite these flaws, I still enjoyed this disc and it's unique interpretation."

Brahms Through a Transparent Lens

David J. Friedlander | Columbus, Ohio United States | 04/27/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I found this to be an eye opening recording from the very first time through many hearings and up to the present. Of all the 4 Brahms symphonies, this has always been for me the most dramatic. You would think that period instruments would steal some of that drama from the total effect. I found the opposite to be true. The period instrumentation gives the music a clarity I've never heard before. Brahms' orchestration can sound muddy with his dense chording and deep string sonorities. I can happily say that is beautifully countered by the instrumentation used here.



There is no fault to be found with the performance, dynamics, pace or sound. One writer complained about the stereo image. This is something I usually do not notice and even after being warned about it, I still don't hear what that reviewer mentioned. That is not to say that the point isn't valid. My stereo is pretty old and I'm no spring chicken either! Still I find no distraction anywhere in the sound. In fact, because of the wonderful balance of the orchestra, this has become my favorite recording of this symphony.



I think this will appeal to anyone who has tried Brahms and finds him "heavy" or "thick". That is minimized in this performance and completely eliminated as a distraction. Those lovers of Romantic Period music on played with a modern orchestra might feel some disorientation from this recording but honestly I would be surprised if they found it unacceptable. I think just about every listener will be pleasantly surprised by the transparency of sound. It just lets you enjoy the music all that much more."

Good version

G. Metcalf | United States | 10/13/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is a good version of this often recorded work. Unlike the other reviewer I thought the sound was good. I didn't think the tutti had any hard over-brassy edge as they imply and I wasn't able to detect any excessive degree of stereo -- not sure how I would detect it. Overall this version holds its own with others I have heard.

The Academic Festival Overture is not my favorite piece so I'll admit right now that I haven't bothered to listen to it all the way through here. Of course anyone buying this is doing so to listen to the symphony anyway.

This is good not great. The price is a plus."