Search - Brahms, Ashkenazy, Cleveland Orchestra :: Symphony 4

Sublime in every respect

12/14/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"ok - first, i have to admit that cleveland is without a doubt my favorite u.s. orchestra - after hearing them live for 2 years, i can honestly say that i learned more about music from them than any teacher in my entire life.second, brahms fourth pretty much does it for me symphonically.i have the older szell and dohnanyi recordings, which i enjoy a great deal, but this one easily surpasses both - ashkenazy is a consummate musician and he really lights a fire under the orchestra.the pacing of the second movement is remarkable (only robert vernon's consistently loud viola playing is a distraction)this is what is meant when talking about the "whole being greater than the sum of its parts."find it if you can"