Blind Comparison: Brahms 2

[TheGSMoeller]

The first will be comparing the exposition of the first movement. If you have any rare recordings you want involved, please do feel free to message me too. And please feel free to use the thread to discuss the work as well, is it his most uplifting symphony, or is Brahms to be believed when he said it was the most melancholic piece he ever wrote?

One man's sunshine is another man's darkness. 
I would say the 2nd certainly comes across as more uplifting than Brahms' other three, but plenty of melancholy could still be extracted. I get a real sense of longing from this piece, especially the opening movement.

Daniel, hopefully you'll be adding some chamber performances in there, the orchestra size always makes for a nice conversation with Brahms symphonies. 

[madaboutmahler]

Great to have you all on board, everyone! We shall be starting in the first week of the new year I hope.

For those for whom this will be their first Blind Comparison, welcome! Basically, voters will be divided into 3 groups for the first round and will rank the recordings in their groups from least favourite to favourite without knowing the performers. The highest scoring performances will then move onto the second round. And we will eventually end with only 5 recordings in the finale. I need to check how many recordings that will be involved, but it will probably be 6-8 per group, and we'll be comparing the exposition of the first movement to begin.

One man's sunshine is another man's darkness. 
I would say the 2nd certainly comes across as more uplifting than Brahms' other three, but plenty of melancholy could still be extracted. I get a real sense of longing from this piece, especially the opening movement.

Daniel, hopefully you'll be adding some chamber performances in there, the orchestra size always makes for a nice conversation with Brahms symphonies. 

Indeed.. I'm interested to hear if any conductors prefer bringing out the melancholic side from the joy and how obvious that will be.. Going to be exciting!
And indeed, I'm hoping to ensure as much variety as possible in this comparison!

[madaboutmahler]

Update:

Just awaiting a few more recordings, and I hope to get started in the upcoming week! I guess that I'll be able to send all the links out on Wednesday.

Very excited! So much variety in the performances!

[Brahmsian]

Excellent, Daniel.  Looking forward to it! 

[TheGSMoeller]

I have a feeling Harnoncourt will clean house. 

Also would like to see Manze and Makerras score well. With Bernstein/VPO close behind. Although if there are others that score higher than these four I will be prepared to give my wallet a talking to, these Blind Comps do tend to lead the way into the Purchased Today thread.

That is if these recordings even make it into the comp.

[Rhymenoceros]

Just awaiting a few more recordings, and I hope to get started in the upcoming week! I guess that I'll be able to send all the links out on Wednesday.

Any updates on this?

[Brahmsian]

I have a feeling Harnoncourt will clean house. 

Also would like to see Manze and Makerras score well. With Bernstein/VPO close behind. Although if there are others that score higher than these four I will be prepared to give my wallet a talking to, these Blind Comps do tend to lead the way into the Purchased Today thread.

That is if these recordings even make it into the comp.

Perhaps.    I have not heard it.  I'm hoping for my sentimental favourite, Sawallisch with the LPO. 

[TheGSMoeller]

Perhaps.    I have not heard it.  I'm hoping for my sentimental favourite, Sawallisch with the LPO. 

That's one I'm unfamiliar with, Ray.

Of course last time I hoped for a recording to go far, it was ousted in the first round. Thanks for nothing, Sinopoli.

[Brian]

My personal final four are Janowski, Kertesz, Kubelik, Wand.

[Madiel]

One wonders why those of you who already know the answer are actually participating in this Blind Comparison. It feels like you're going to take these samples, compare them against your recordings, figure out which is which and give your scores accordingly.

[Sergeant Rock]

One wonders why those of you who already know the answer are actually participating in this Blind Comparison. It feels like you're going to take these samples, compare them against your recordings, figure out which is which and give your scores accordingly.

It might seem that way but the comparison has a funny way of screwing our favorites. For example, my favorite Symphonie fantastique was kicked out after only one round...and I helped kick it out! 

Sarge

[Sergeant Rock]

Any updates on this?

Nothing yet. Have patience...you'll need it, believe me    Mad exists, I think, in a different temporal reality.

Sarge

[TheGSMoeller]

One wonders why those of you who already know the answer are actually participating in this Blind Comparison. It feels like you're going to take these samples, compare them against your recordings, figure out which is which and give your scores accordingly.

not every recording is seen positively, so even if two gave the highest score to a recording they knew of, several others could give it the lowest score. I think in just about every BComp there have been surprise winners. 

[Brian]

One wonders why those of you who already know the answer are actually participating in this Blind Comparison. It feels like you're going to take these samples, compare them against your recordings, figure out which is which and give your scores accordingly.

That has never, ever happened for me; the only time it's come close was when we did 'Symphonie fantastique' and my favorite afterwards was the same as my favorite prior to.

It's more like being an Olympics judge. "Oooh, that gymnast is really really good" doesn't mean that when you see them all competing you'll choose it. Unless you're Russian.

[mc ukrneal]

One wonders why those of you who already know the answer are actually participating in this Blind Comparison. It feels like you're going to take these samples, compare them against your recordings, figure out which is which and give your scores accordingly.

Mad is pretty good at hiding which is which. In addition, and thankfully, most members seem to be pretty objective (without agenda) about rating/ranking. Having participated in pretty much of all of them, I have yet to feel that even one member was doing this.

[Madiel]

Okay then. In that case, I thoroughly look forward to quoting people's statements back at them at the end, and then pointing and laughing.   

[North Star]

Okay then. In that case, I thoroughly look forward to quoting people's statements back at them at the end, and then pointing and laughing.   

Let me help you get started on that laugh riot 

[Madiel]

Let me help you get started on that laugh riot 

HA! Given that I don't have any recordings of Brahms 2, and I'm not sure I've ever even heard it, that ain't going to happen to me, mister. I can quite happily sit here and say I have no preconceived ideas whatsoever about who should win.

[Brian]

Okay then. In that case, I thoroughly look forward to quoting people's statements back at them at the end, and then pointing and laughing.   

This, on the other hand, happens a LOT. Like in a Chopin game when somebody was so taken with Lang Lang's playing, but so prejudiced against Lang Lang, that he said, "If this is Lang Lang, then I quit." It was, of course.

[MishaK]

I'd be up for this if it's not too late to join.