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One of the boxed sets I recently received was the set of Brahms symphonies as conducted by Karajan with the BPO, from the early 60s (tulips on the label). Very nice set and I was happy to see this, given a more elevated regard for Karajan's recordings that I have been experiencing over the last few years.
But I have to say that I find this set disappointing, in the main. Karajan seems intent on re-creating the Brahms symphonies as really "big" -overinflated one might say, which I think is to the disadvantage of the scoring - the sound strikes me as very thick. He also seems to be intent on wringing the last element of romantic juice out of these, with quite a few tempo fluctuations and rhetorical gestures. Surprising given his more classical bent for the nearly contemporaneous Beethoven symphony recordings.
While I haven't collected endless sets of Brahms symphonies, I can think of two I like better - the Walter stereo set on Columbia and the early Abbado set, using a different orchestra for each symphony, also on DG. Some have praised the Sanderling Eurodisc set to the skies, but I find it too slow.
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Seems like you prefer the classical versus the romantic interpretation. Have you heard the Klemperer series from circa 1957?
Edits: 09/23/16
You should hear Sanderling's later recording on Capriccio! ;-)
And, best of all, it can be yours on Amazon for a mere $530.09! (How do they come up with these prices???)
But all part of the deal on both TIDAL and QOBUZ at 16/44.1 Lossless FLAC.
Win some lose some.
Price is directly proportional to total playing time.
on Decca or EMI?
I kinda like von Karajan before he became VON KARAJAN!
I did a cursory search on eBay, and found the following:
Sym. 1 - VPO on RCA (I assume, but not 100% certain, a Decca production)
Sym. 2 - Philharmonia, EMI
Sym. 3 - VPO, London/Decca
Sym. 4 - Philharmonia, EMI (looks like the oldest - the one I saw was actually French Columbia, an EMI affiliate).
He also had another go in the digital era with the BPO.
My favorite for Brahms symphonies is Gunter Wand conducting an orchestra whose name I can't pronounce. :) He's the only conductor on these pieces from the several I've listened to that gets the emotion right. 1st and 2nd are EMI, 3rd and 4th are Harmonia Mundi (not sure if both labels did all four, those are just the ones I have).
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Opus 33 1/3
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