Sym 1 [Import]

As someone who has only recently begun seriously collecting classical CDs, the Bruno Walter Edition has been a revelation. Walter, at the end of his career, set out to record his signature pieces for posterity in what was then the new technology of stereo. And unlike von Karajan, who rushed to record his repertoire at the dawn of the video and digital era to often-mixed results, every Walter performance I have encountered is absolutely brilliant. This recording of Brahms' 1st Symphony, and his whole stereo Brahms Symphony Cycle for that matter, is no exception. There are other Brahms Cycles out there that are equally good -- most notably those by Szell, Kertesz, Klemperer, and Bohm -- but none of them are superior to these accounts. Also, I should note that since making a point of acquiring all of the Bruno Walter Edition titles earlier this year, I have witnessed several of them falling prey to the deletion axe. So order the Bruno Walter Edition titles quickly, because these recordings made during the twilight of Walter's career, seem to be in the twilight of their own life as well.

I have listened to many recordings of Brahms 1st. I have also read extensively the reviews others have given on every Brahms 1st available on Amazon. Along with Klemperer's Brahms 1st, Walter's Brahms 1st is the one to own. The sound is incredible. The performance is closely-miked with deep rich bass. (a conductor's perspective). But, I like it that way. This performance draws you in. I can listen to this performance over and over without tiring. Do not get confused with the multitude of choices out there on which performance of Brahms 1st to get, I have done the searching and listening, get this Brahms 1st and you will not be disappointed.

Hearing once again Bruno Walter's Brahms First re-connects me with what is one of the outstanding realizations of this glorious symphony. In this singing, powerfully expressive account, the conductor's accents and shaping of detail usher into bold relief the music's sublime character. In the first movement, he is especially effective at characterizing the music's underlying tension. The brilliantly lit, poignant tones of the second movement are presented in as musical a manner one could wish for. The less intense and more freely flowing third movement nicely benefits also from the conductor's special touch. In the early portion of the final movement, Walter elicits a marvelously atmospheric effect from the clarion call of the broad, noble sounding horn that follows the dark, fleeting clouds. Then, from the famous stately tune on, he neither loses sight of the music's singing line nor its surging intensity. I only wish he would have proceeded at a quicker pace following the spot I refer to as the powerful churning of the gears toward the close. Nevertheless, the final chords are most convincing. Along with Klemperer/Philharmonia, Van Beinum/Amsterdam Concertgebouw(his 1958 stereo recording), Krips/Vienna Philharmonic and Walter's other version with the NY Philharmonic in monophonic sound this performance reigns as one of my favorite Brahms Firsts. Otherwise, the Academic Festival Overture brims with color, joyousness and grandness. It has never been bettered. The Variations on a Theme of Haydn likewise benefits greatly from Walter's affectionate and poetic approach. This entire cd is a tribute to one of the greatest lovers and interpreters of the music of Brahms.