Hungarian Dances (Brahms)

[tjguitar]

Any recommendations? I was looking at the Jarvi on Chandos, but then I noticed some of the other sets like the Abbado on DG had some different credited orchestrators....

[Holden]

Any recommendations? I was looking at the Jarvi on Chandos, but then I noticed some of the other sets like the Abbado on DG had some different credited orchestrators....

I find the orchestral transcriptions somewhat turbid. Try them in the genre they were originally written for - piano four hands and then you will get real excitement. Recommended are

Duo Crommelynck
The Labeque Sisters - both superb performances.

[dirkronk]

I like a bit of wildness and fierceness in these pieces, and the Dorati/LSO selections on Mercury LP (Philips in Europe) always delivered excitement, ever since my earliest days of listening and collecting. I also liked the shorter selection by Reiner and Vienna (on Decca). Never warmed up to Karajan's and never heard the Boskovsky. Me, I keep wondering where Szell was...

The newer guys on CD, unfortunately, I do not know in this repertoire. Based on how Ivan Fischer does the Liszt Hungarian rhapsodies, however, I would expect good things in the Brahms dances. A quick look at Penguin shows that those guys gush like crazy over Bogar on Naxos...even give it a rosette, FWIW. Anyone here familiar with that one?

Good luck in your hunt and let us know what you end up with.

Dirk

[Brian]

The newer guys on CD, unfortunately, I do not know in this repertoire. Based on how Ivan Fischer does the Liszt Hungarian rhapsodies, however, I would expect good things in the Brahms dances. A quick look at Penguin shows that those guys gush like crazy over Bogar on Naxos...even give it a rosette, FWIW. Anyone here familiar with that one?

Have it and love it! Rich, rustic, zippy. I am intrigued by the Fischer, because he apparently took on some of the orchestrations himself. Bogar does all the "standard" transcriptions, but with life.

Now, mind you, the only other recording I have of the orchestral version is an old Pilz CD with Alfred Scholz and some fictitious orchestra.

This is my overall favorite version of the Hungarian Dances in any medium, and urgently recommended:

[Picture no longer seems to work:

BRAHMS | Hungarian Dances, arranged for violin and piano by Joseph Joachim
Hagai Shaham, violin
Arnon Erez, piano
Hyperion]

Some quotes:

"This is a magnificent release. Shaham and Erez have thoroughly absorbed a style that demands continual flexibility, playing together with such ease that it's easy to forget the art and care that have gone into achieving such beautiful ensemble" (Gramophone)

"This recording by Hagai Shaham and Arnon Erez is probably the most dazzling that I have heard" (American Record Guide)

"exuberant: he takes advantage of opportunities to pepper his readings with pregnant pauses, occasionally telegraphing a note only after he's made the listener aware of its coming. In fact, though the pieces themselves may be highly virtuosic (on second thought, forget the "may be"), Shaham hardly allows these built-in difficulties to be obvious, so intent does he seem in communicating their impassioned rhetoric. ...Those who have already acquired Rosand's or Bisengaliev's performances will still need these; and the fascinating Joachim Variations may provide just the incentive to do so. Urgently recommended to collectors of all stripes." FANFARE: Robert Maxham

[The new erato]

I too, prefer the originals and enjoy Brendel/lKien on Turabout (now on the big, Brendel box on Brilliant) a lot.

[Xenophanes]

Any recommendations? I was looking at the Jarvi on Chandos, but then I noticed some of the other sets like the Abbado on DG had some different credited orchestrators....

Naxos 8.550110

http://www.amazon.com/Brahms-Hungarian-Dances-Nos-1-21/dp/B0000013KA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1246819462&sr=1-1

The performances are excellent and the recording is quite good, too.  This has long been the favorite of the Penguin Guide, which gives it **** and a Rosette.

[Lethevich]

Can anyone suggest some good fast recordings of the set?

If they go much above 50 mins, they tend to bore me. Ivan Fischer is the worst, his Philips recording somehow nudges over 56 mins. So far I am enjoying Abbado (48'), but feel it's only because it's a fast, clean take - perhaps there are more interesting ones out there?

[Gurn Blanston]

Can anyone suggest some good fast recordings of the set?

If they go much above 50 mins, they tend to bore me. Ivan Fischer is the worst, his Philips recording somehow nudges over 56 mins. So far I am enjoying Abbado (48'), but feel it's only because it's a fast, clean take - perhaps there are more interesting ones out there?

Which arrangement? Solo piano, 4 hands piano, violin & piano or orchestral? My absolute favorite is the violin version, and I have Hagai Shaham and Arnon Erez on Hyperion. It is 52 minutes, but certainly not boring!   (Inexpensive too!)

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[Lethevich]

Ah, sorry - while it's not the original version I generally assume the orchestral one to be the default one when no qualifications are added - I also really like that chamber transcription of it, but I'm not so fond of the piano duo (the Slavonic Dances didn't work for me in that form either, for some reason).

[mc ukrneal]

Naxos 8.550110

http://www.amazon.com/Brahms-Hungarian-Dances-Nos-1-21/dp/B0000013KA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1246819462&sr=1-1

The performances are excellent and the recording is quite good, too.  This has long been the favorite of the Penguin Guide, which gives it **** and a Rosette.

I've always liked this recording. I think it is among the better ones in good sound. It's hard to find a recording that feels uninhibitied, and few really meet that threshold. I think that is what Lethe is really looking for in terms of timing. I don't know if the Naxos cd will meet expectations, but I think they have lots of passion and joy.

[Lethevich]

That one does sound appealing. My problem with many of the slower ones I mention is that they sound too stately or cool - they're just not fun as dances.

[val]

Regarding the version 4 hands, the best version is the one of Steven and Stijn Kolacny. Delightful.

I don't like much the orchestral versions.

[Holden]

Regarding the version 4 hands, the best version is the one of Steven and Stijn Kolacny. Delightful.

I don't like much the orchestral versions.

Two other version for four hands

Duo Crommelynck  (Claves)

Katia and Marielle Lebecque  (Philips)

[val]

Holden
Two other version for four hands

Duo Crommelynck  (Claves)

Katia and Marielle Lebecque  (Philips)

I know both (and have the Crommelynck version) but believe me, compared to the Kolacny they seem very pale.

[Holden]

I know both (and have the Crommelynck version) but believe me, compared to the Kolacny they seem very pale.

What label?

[chung]

Any recommendations? I was looking at the Jarvi on Chandos, but then I noticed some of the other sets like the Abbado on DG had some different credited orchestrators....

The reputation of Bogar's recording is exaggerated to my ears. It seems like a case where Penguin's judgment is affected by some kind of sympathy and eagerness to stick up for the "little guy". It's hardly worthy of the "Rosette" (in fact I got it on the strength of Penguin's puffery only to be somewhat disappointed).

I recommend Ivan Fischer's recording for Hungaroton of the dances. It's a lot of fun to hear and much more satisfying to me than his second attempt but on Philips instead.

[Mandryka]

I know both (and have the Crommelynck version) but believe me, compared to the Kolacny they seem very pale.

Have you heard Cziffra at Senlis? That recording seems to me absolutely magic, inspired. (I guess he must have made his own transcription for two hands -- I've never read the booklet. He may be improvising.) There's also an excellent single dance from him on the early CD of transcriptions -- one of my favourite CDs.

I have Les Frères Kolacny and it's nuanced, subtle, well balanced, fun..and brilliantly recorded.