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Sers 1/2 [Import]

Johannes Brahms (Artist) | Format: Audio CD
4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
Price: CDN$ 21.93 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over CDN$ 25. Details
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Product Details
1. I. Allegro Molto
2. II. Scherzo: Allegro Non Troppo
3. III. Adagio Non Troppo
4. IV. Menuetto 1; Menuetto 2
5. V. Scherzo: Allegro
6. VI. Rondo: Allegro
7. I. Allegro Moderato
8. II. Scherzo: Vivace
9. III. Adagio Non Troppo
10. IV. Quasi Menuetto
11. V. Rondo: Allegro

Product Description

Amazon.ca

In this follow-up to his provocative cycle of the Brahms symphonies with the same ensemble, Sir Charles Mackerras once again shows that doing things according to received ideas about the music and how it should sound--"tradition," if you will--is simply not his cup of tea. His traversal of the symphonies was provocative in part because he did it with a chamber-orchestra sized string complement, hoping to recapture the balance and sonic weight of an orchestra of Brahms's day, specifically the Meiningen Court Orchestra, which premiered the Fourth Symphony. While that raised some eyebrows, tackling the two serenades with a chamber orchestra makes perfect sense, since both works were written for the modest forces of the court orchestra at Detmold. Lively, lean-textured, and expressive, these accounts comfortably straddle the divide between chamber music and symphonism, thereby allowing a privileged view into the composer's heart-of-hearts. Mackerras lets us see that while the grandeur of the symphonies is impressive, there is even more of the true Brahms--intimate, ardent, and soulful--right here in the serenades. --Ted Libbey

Customer Reviews

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Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars These are the Serenade Recordings to Own Nov 12 2003
By A Customer
Format:Audio CD
I'm a great fan of Sir Charles, but I'm of two minds about his celebrated and controversial Brahms Symphony set. I think the chamber-orchestra approach takes away from almost as much as it brings to this music. On the other hand, I'm willing to say that Brahms's two youthful serenades have never sounded fresher or more piquant than in these wonderful performances, especially the Serenade No. 1, which has all the "look-at-me-world" audaciousness that Brahms must have felt in putting his first orchestral work to paper. It glows, especially in Telarc's crystalline recording. Sir Charles's way with the sweeter, more sedate Second Serenade is just as winning, but it's the performance of the First Serenade that I still, joyously, hear resounding in my imagination.
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3.0 out of 5 stars "Historically Authentic" Brahms April 24 2001
By A Customer
Format:Audio CD
While Charles Mackerras has come up with a new reason to record Brahms' Serenades, a historically accurate Brahms is not necessarily a beautiful Brahms. Sir Charles' muscular interpretation may win points for enthusiasm, but Bernard Haitink and the Concertgebuow Orchestra did it better on an old Philips recording. Still it is an honest sound and the Serenade No. 1 is a wonderful piece of music full of the youthful exuberence of the young Brahms. I never get tired of this piece. The melodies are glorious and familiarity does not diminish its capacity to warm the heart. It deserves to be performed more often. Sir Charles has done us a good turn by reminding us how great it is in his new recording.
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5.0 out of 5 stars illuminating performances of great, little-known music Feb 2 2000
By Allan Brain
Format:Audio CD
Sir Charles Mackerras is a great conductor and scholar. He was among the pioneers in what is now called "historically informed performance", but has not really gone so far as to embrace original instruments or "period performance practice".

Mackerras' recordings of Handel and Mozart are well known; in the past several years, he has expanded his recorded repertoire to include Beethoven, Schubert, Mahler, and now Brahms. He also has a specialty in music of Czech composers such as Dvorak and Janacek. This recording, like so many others of this great and relatively little-known conductor, is one of the best available of these works. (Believe it or not, it is hard to think of a single recording by Mackerras that is not among the best; his Handel Messiah from the late '60s is still a great choice)

The Brahms serenades are "lighter" than the symphonies, but these performances are "lighter" yet, in that the orchestral clarity characteristic of the "period performance" style is ideal for these beautiful works, and Telarc's recording provides even more clarity. Anyone who thinks Brahms is ponderous or "thick" should try these works in these performances. After hearing this CD, I am determined to go get Mackerras' recordings of the Brahms symphonies.

You will love this music; and do yourself a favor and go get Mackerras'recordings of the Dvorak Slavonic Dances too!

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