Repertoire: The BEST Brahms Symphony Cycles, Bar None!

Comments · 379

• JA

  @JackBurttrumpetstuff · 6 years ago

  Whenever I hear David say, "and this may come as a surprise..." I know it's Karajan time! Ha ha.

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• NC

  @NCF80M3 · 3 years ago

  Maybe I am insane but Brahms is my favorite, his music just speaks to me

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• JM

  @jmf.2025 · 1 year ago

  Kurt Sanderling/Staatskapelle Dresden (RCA) What a perfect balance of what a good Brahms should be! Beauty of sound, transparency, prominence of all the voices in the score, tension without stridency in a subtle blend of lyricism and drama. I know of no more complete Brahms

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• TH

  @thejils1669 · 3 years ago (edited)

  Aside from adding my comment elsewhere, singing the praises of the Szell/CO Brahms cycle, I would like to throw in a recommendation to boot.  When listening to any classical music repertoire, especially Brahms, I believe it to be critically important to do so with score in hand...providing, of course, you know how to read a musical score, especially in depth for Brahms.  If you are somewhat familiar with the piece, it's first probably best to do this beforehand before sampling any recording.  In much of his musical output, the sheer complexity of what Brahms wrote is mind-boggling!

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• AN

  @andrewbowie · 3 years ago

  Jochum was my favourite conductor when I lived in Berlin and was able to hear him live a few times, notably in a stunning Brahms 4. Love his recordings of the Brahms cycles. I also like Skrowaczewski with the Halle, which rarely gets a mention. And lots of others...

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• JA

  @JackBurttrumpetstuff · 6 years ago

  I must say, David, I love these videos. It is so enjoyable to hear an informed person talk about a thing that they love. I don't agree all the time (how boring would that be?), but I have taken your advice and added many a single recording. and set to my collection because of your videos. In these miserable times, it is great to spend time hearing someone talk about something they (and I) love...

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• JO

  @joewebb1983 · 3 years ago

  Great to see Dorati mentioned there. I remember back in the noughties when I first discovered Dorati and his Mercury recordings. I was in my teens and I tried to get as many I could but they were in short supply here in the UK. So I ended up regularly purchasing from Tower Records online from the US and this was one set I bought. It&apos;s a great cycle!<br>Totally agree about Mackerras&apos; set also, superb!<br>Dohnanyi too - he did them again with the Philharmonia too on their own label, which are also really good.<br>As for the best of the best... 💯 with Klemperer and Jochum! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

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• HA

  @halross3447 · 3 years ago

  I own both the Karajan and Solti cycles (on vinyl). I enjoy them both, however, I really love the sound of the CSO recordings. The London engineers captured a warm and very beautiful sound. Both orchestras play superbly.

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• CO

  @colinclarke7307 · 5 years ago

  Wow Jochum - just heard the 1st Symphony - what a sizzler! completely overlooked these recordngs, even (especially) in the &apos;60s!

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• JE

  @jefolson6989 · 4 years ago

  I still love Kertesz, because it was my first, bought in the cutout section. But Jochum is truly one of the greatest all around conductors. No flash, he just walked around making great music.

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• CH

  @chifong99 · 1 year ago

  Bruno Walter &amp; Columbia set was my introduction to Brahms cycle. Still brings me the best thrills and grandeur even today.

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• TU

  @tubapress · 5 years ago

  So many incredible recordings of these symphonies. &nbsp;One that comes to mind that was not mentioned: &nbsp;Rudolf Kempe! &nbsp;A truly monumental set with Berlin Philharmonic on Testament label.

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