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Review
During a 2008 BBC interview to mark the centenary of his birth, the composer Elliott Carter uttered the startling statement that live performances of his works rarely sounded the way they did in his head. Such an admission from this two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning centenarian sounded rather tragic, but in fact Brahms had a similar problem with his symphonies. Indeed, even the greatest conductors of his day could reduce him to despair. He accused Walter Frisch of "fussy over-determined expressivity", whilst a performance by Hans Richter was "truly awful". Thankfully for Brahms, people did occasionally get it right for him, garnering praise from him such as "exceptionally sensitive and scholarly", and "spirited and elegant". It's likely he would have approved of this particular disc too, the latest addition to John Eliot Gardiner's historically-informed Brahms series.
Gardiner's reading of Brahms' final symphony has been informed by the composer's more positive comments above, and also the annotated manuscripts left by Steinbach, a conductor whose performances Brahms was reputed to have enjoyed. Perhaps most importantly though, Gardiner has taken guidance from, and programmed the symphony alongside, the music that made Brahms tick – orchestral and choral works by his beloved Beethoven, Bach and Schütz, plus his own substantially-sized choral works. The resultant interpretation, performed on a small, period-instrumented orchestra, is a revelation.
Textures are as transparent as chamber music. Phrases and ideas are nuanced, but disciplined rather than heart-on-sleeve. Attack is crisp. In short, Gardiner and his orchestra have placed the work firmly within the classical tradition, as a natural continuation from Brahms' symphonic idol Beethoven, rather than the seamless precursor to Wagner. Fans of the highly expressive, big-orchestra sound will find climaxes smaller, swells less deeply plumbed, and timbres less fruitily rich. However, instead there's pace, energy, intelligently balanced lines, and notes that previously you'd have needed a score to detect amidst the general wash of colour.
This invigorating performance is more than an interpretation. It's an entire reassessment of how Brahms' fourth and final symphony should be understood and performed. Marvellous.
Review
A well planned and compellingly performed live recording from Gardiner. EDITORS CHOICE. --Gramophone,Nov'10
This performance gives a lively sense of what that authentic Brahms sound might have been like,and the music gains enormously-not one ounce of flab on these textures. Performance ***** Recording ***** --BBC Music Magazine,Dec'10
This performance gives a lively sense of what that authentic Brahms sound might have been like,and the music gains enormously-not one ounce of flab on these textures. Performance ***** Recording ***** --BBC Music Magazine,Dec'10
If your taste is for a lecture recital without the lecture,this is for you.Gardiner's interpretations are always worth hearing, even if you don't follow him all the way. **** --Classic FM Magazine,Dec'10
If your taste is for a lecture recital without the lecture,this is for you.Gardiner's interpretations are always worth hearing, even if you don't follow him all the way. **** --Classic FM Magazine,Dec'10
This performance gives a lively sense of what that authentic Brahms sound might have been like,and the music gains enormously-not one ounce of flab on these textures. Performance ***** Recording ***** --BBC Music Magazine,Dec'10
This performance gives a lively sense of what that authentic Brahms sound might have been like,and the music gains enormously-not one ounce of flab on these textures. Performance ***** Recording ***** --BBC Music Magazine,Dec'10
If your taste is for a lecture recital without the lecture,this is for you.Gardiner's interpretations are always worth hearing, even if you don't follow him all the way. **** --Classic FM Magazine,Dec'10
If your taste is for a lecture recital without the lecture,this is for you.Gardiner's interpretations are always worth hearing, even if you don't follow him all the way. **** --Classic FM Magazine,Dec'10
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
A superb way for Gardiner to complete his Brahms symphonies recordings
24 Sep 2011
By Yi-Peng
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Audio CD
I've loved the music-making and recordings of Sir John Eliot Gardiner, and I've very much loved this new CD series of the Brahms symphonies. Although I haven't had the chance to review the previous three symphonies, I think this CD with the Fourth Symphony is just about the perfect conclusion to the series. Gardiner has also re-recorded the Brahms Requiem and released it a few months back, and I think it is an absolutely superb recording, and a marked improvement over his 1991 recording.
Sir John and the ORR turn in some magnificent performances of the Brahms symphonies. Listening to this CD of the Fourth and the fillers that come before it, I get this sense that Gardiner's music-making has ripened over the years. There have been some marvellous recordings he's done in the past, including the various Bach oratorios and passions for DG/Archiv and the Beethoven symphonies. But I think that this Brahms cycle takes his music making to a new level.
The Monteverdi Choir sings the choral items with ease and feel at home in the music. They are at their best in the excerpts from the Bach cantata, BWV 150, that inspired the finale of the symphony.
As for the symphony, Gardiner and the ORR really shine. It's a different performance compared to the Furtwangler and Kleiber recordings one is used to. I think this performance is more stormy and fiery than most other recordings of the symphony. Gardiner's ORR may be small, but I like the way the sound swells in powerful climaxes. In the first movement I like the dialogue between the sections and I like how the music moves forward without sounding rushed. The slow movement flows nicely and doesn't sound rushed, and I think this performance allows the instruments to really sing.... Read more ›
Sir John and the ORR turn in some magnificent performances of the Brahms symphonies. Listening to this CD of the Fourth and the fillers that come before it, I get this sense that Gardiner's music-making has ripened over the years. There have been some marvellous recordings he's done in the past, including the various Bach oratorios and passions for DG/Archiv and the Beethoven symphonies. But I think that this Brahms cycle takes his music making to a new level.
The Monteverdi Choir sings the choral items with ease and feel at home in the music. They are at their best in the excerpts from the Bach cantata, BWV 150, that inspired the finale of the symphony.
As for the symphony, Gardiner and the ORR really shine. It's a different performance compared to the Furtwangler and Kleiber recordings one is used to. I think this performance is more stormy and fiery than most other recordings of the symphony. Gardiner's ORR may be small, but I like the way the sound swells in powerful climaxes. In the first movement I like the dialogue between the sections and I like how the music moves forward without sounding rushed. The slow movement flows nicely and doesn't sound rushed, and I think this performance allows the instruments to really sing.... Read more ›
5 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By Teemacs
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Format:Audio CD
Gardiner's Brahms series has been excellent - nicely paced, well recorded offerings from a conductor, who, as per the Bach cantata pilgrimage, seems to have got under the composer's skin. In addition, you get lots of other goods things with this record, a fine rendition of Beethoven's noble "Coriolan" overture, plus choral pieces from Brahms, Gabrieli, Schütz and Bach. Excellent CD.
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By jon
Format:Audio CD
The item was as described, a very good purchase and a perfect transaction. Very interesting booklet with original insights into Brahm's work.
3 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By pablot68
Format:Audio CD
Questo cd, che corona l'integrale delle sinfonie di Brahms interpretate da John Eliot Gardiner alla guida dell'Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique, non delude le aspettative. Introdotto dai drammatici rintocchi dell'ouverture del Coriolano beethoveniano, brano di grande intensità per il suo bitematismo corrispondente al conflitto interiore del protagonista, il cd propone, in successione, splendide pagine corali di fattura tardo-rinascimentale e barocca (Gabrieli, Schutz, Bach): si tratta di pagine studiate ed eseguite dallo stesso Brahms, importanti in quanto rivelano lo studio analitico di forme musicali arcaiche: forme riprese e attualizzate nella produzione sinfonica dello stesso compositore, e in particolare nella quarta sinfonia qui proposta, forse quella più orientata al recupero in chiave moderna della tradizione barocca. Ciò è evidente nel ritmo di ciaccona della cantata di Bach, trasposto nel finale della sinfonia, che riprende pure il tema del Coriolano. L'ascolto si chiude, pertanto con evidente richiamo al brano di apertura, alla stregua di un ideale percorso circolare.
Elegante graficamente e ricco di informazioni il libretto, con un'articolata intervista a Gardiner, che offre interessanti notizie e considerazioni sulla genesi della sinfonia nonché sulle scelte esecutive messe in relazione con la storia dell'interpretazione brahmsiana. Inutile dire che l'orchestra suona meravigliosamente: fraseggio, chiarezza, impeto, intensità convivono in perfetto equilibrio. Un'esecuzione immensa, memorabile, che rende preziosissimo il cd.
Elegante graficamente e ricco di informazioni il libretto, con un'articolata intervista a Gardiner, che offre interessanti notizie e considerazioni sulla genesi della sinfonia nonché sulle scelte esecutive messe in relazione con la storia dell'interpretazione brahmsiana. Inutile dire che l'orchestra suona meravigliosamente: fraseggio, chiarezza, impeto, intensità convivono in perfetto equilibrio. Un'esecuzione immensa, memorabile, che rende preziosissimo il cd.
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