Brahms/Levine

Started by shive1, February 09, 2008, 03:53:29 PM

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shive1

February 09, 2008, 03:53:29 PM Last Edit: February 09, 2008, 03:55:43 PM by shive1
I'm considering purchasing the set of Brahms symphonies on DG with James Levine and the VPO. I generally like James Levine, but I'm unfamiliar with him in Brahms. Has anyone listened to this set? Any comments?  Thanks.



PerfectWagnerite

#1
February 09, 2008, 06:20:37 PM
Quote from: shive1 on February 09, 2008, 03:53:29 PM
I'm considering purchasing the set of Brahms symphonies on DG with James Levine and the VPO. I generally like James Levine, but I'm unfamiliar with him in Brahms. Has anyone listened to this set? Any comments?  Thanks.




You must be thinking about the $29.99 weekend offer from archivmusic.
I think #1 and 3 (including the Tragic Overture and Alto Rhapsody) are still in print. So the question is do yo want to pay them $30 for 3 CDRs.

springrite

#2
February 09, 2008, 06:24:11 PM
I have never associated Levine with Brahms. If I remember correctly, the only Brahms I've heard from him was one of the symphonies and it was pedestrian.

Dancing Divertimentian

#3
February 09, 2008, 06:41:05 PM
Quote from: springrite on February 09, 2008, 06:24:11 PM
I have never associated Levine with Brahms. If I remember correctly, the only Brahms I've heard from him was one of the symphonies and it was pedestrian.

Levine does a wonderful Gurrelieder. Very strong architecturally with much warmth. Much the same as good Brahms typically sounds.

It's a tenuous tie-in but one that makes me curious to hear Levine's Brahms...



Veit Bach-a baker who found his greatest pleasure in a little cittern which he took with him even into the mill and played while the grinding was going on. In this way he had a chance to have the rhythm drilled into him. And this was the beginning of a musical inclination in his descendants. JS Bach

Bunny

#5
February 14, 2008, 05:46:16 PM
Quote from: springrite on February 09, 2008, 06:24:11 PM
I have never associated Levine with Brahms. If I remember correctly, the only Brahms I've heard from him was one of the symphonies and it was pedestrian.

I know very little about the Arkiv cycle, but based on the cycle I have (with the Chicago SO) Levine is an excellent Brahms interpreter.  For some reason it's only available in Japan (I had my husband bring it back for me from a business trip), but it is available through online Japanese vendors (Amazon Japan or HMV Japan).  Btw, it was a lot less expensive then.

MishaK

#6
February 15, 2008, 08:19:33 AM
The CSO/Levine cycle on RCA was at least partially available on those cheap RCA Basic 100 discs (I have No.1 from that set). It's not exactly my cup of tea. If you like your Brahms fast and intense, you'll like this. But there is very little color and poetry to this approach. Levine out-Soltis Solti on this one.
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