I really like Brahms' Alto Rhapsody. The music means something to me on an emotional level particularly when the emotional intensity of a given contralto's performance shines through.
I also like the form; the relatively simple structure enhances the impact of the emotional content.
I have the following versions in my collection:
Abbado / Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra / Lipovsek
Gardiner / Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique / Stutzmann
Herreweghe / Orchestre des Champs-Élysées / Hallenberg
Klemperer / Philharmonia Orchestra / Ludwig
Krauss / London Philharmonic Orchestra / Ferrier
Nelson / Ensemble A Sei Voci / Blythe
Do you like the work and, if so, what further recommendations would you make?
Quote from: aligreto on February 26, 2016, 08:43:26 AM
I really like Brahms' Alto Rhapsody. The music means something to me on an emotional level particularly when the emotional intensity of a given contralto's performance shines through.
I also like the form; the relatively simple structure enhances the impact of the emotional content.
I have the following versions in my collection:
Abbado / Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra / Lipovsek
Gardiner / Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique / Stutzmann
Herreweghe / Orchestre des Champs-Élysées / Hallenberg
Klemperer / Philharmonia Orchestra / Ludwig
Krauss / London Philharmonic Orchestra / Ferrier
Nelson / Ensemble A Sei Voci / Blythe
Do you like the work and, if so, what further recommendations would you make?
As long as you're not after perfect sound, my choice is Sinopoli/Fassbaender.
Quote from: Mandryka on February 26, 2016, 09:07:34 AM
As long as you're not after perfect sound, my choice is Sinopoli/Fassbaender.
No, I am more about performance, particularly for something like this.
I always find Sinopoli interesting so straight onto the List.
Thank you for that.
I remember Fassbaender as great but the rest of that DG disc with Sinopoli is very easily bettered (the overall sound is not great on the disc)
Not sure about the Triumphlied because this is the only version I have but there are certainly better recordings for Nänie and Schicksalslied (e.g. Abbado/DG or Davis/RCA).
So if you find Fassbaender cheaply or can stream it, get it, otherwise decide if it's worth mainly for the Rhapsody.
(And if you like Fassbaender get her ealry 1980s Brahms Lieder recital that appeared on several cheapo labels, one of my favorite Lieder discs.)
Of your list I have Ludwig/Klemp and Lipovsek, as well as another Ludwig (Böhm, I think) and Stutzman/Davis and maybe another one somewhere as filler. But I can't say anything about them without re-listening.
Quote from: Jo498 on February 26, 2016, 12:51:45 PM
(And if you like Fassbaender get her ealry 1980s Brahms Lieder recital that appeared on several cheapo labels, one of my favorite Lieder discs.)
That is an interesting aside; thank you for that.
Another one that I enjoyed is Van Beinum/Heynis. And Tuxen/Ferrier too.
(The reason I can make these recommendations is that about five years ago I listened to every recording I could lay my hands on, but I haven't investigated recent releases at all. I haven't heard Herreweghe as far as I remember.)
Quote from: Mandryka on February 26, 2016, 09:48:57 PM
Another one that I enjoyed is Van Beinum/Heynis. And Tuxen/Ferrier too.
(The reason I can make these recommendations is that about five years ago I listened to every recording I could lay my hands on, but I haven't investigated recent releases at all. I haven't heard Herreweghe as far as I remember.)
Thank you again for that.
I can definitely recommend the Herreweghe as it is a fine performance with the usual Herreweghe treatment.
Bruno Walter, I think with Mildred Miller. The recording I've got doesn't give me all the details.
Quote from: Holden on February 27, 2016, 12:47:09 PM
Bruno Walter, I think with Mildred Miller. The recording I've got doesn't give me all the details.
I'm not much of a Brahmin, but do find things to admire in the
Alto Rhapsody. And, yes, the
Mildred Miller /
Bruno Walter is a very good perfomance IMHO (even if the vocalist is not as much a mega-star as some of her competitors). There's something particualrly idiomatic and flowing to this recording, that makes it a winner.
Quote from: ritter on February 27, 2016, 01:01:10 PM
I'm not much of a Brahmin, but do find things to admire in the Alto Rhapsody. And, yes, the Mildred Miller / Bruno Walter is a very good perfomance IMHO (even if the vocalist is not as much a mega-star as some of her competitors). There's something particualrly idiomatic and flowing to this recording, that makes it a winner.
Thank you for clarifying the
Holden recommendation above. I am an admirer of Walter but I do not think that I have any recordings of him in Brahms so that should be an interesting exercise in itself.
Sinclair / Boult (as far as I know only LP)
and
Heynis / van Beinum
are my choices.
Quote from: (: premont :) on February 27, 2016, 02:35:12 PM
Sinclair / Boult (as far as I know only LP)
and
Heynis / van Beinum
are my choices.
Another recommendation for the Heynis/van Beinum version.
I like my vinyl so I might try to track down the Sinclair/Boult version too.
Thank you for that.
Quote from: aligreto on February 27, 2016, 02:39:34 PM
Another recommendation for the Heynis/van Beinum version.
I like my vinyl so I might try to track down the Sinclair/Boult version too.
Thank you for that.
Aafje Heynis - a name I haven't seen in years. She died just before Christmas BTW. RIP.
Quote from: aligreto on February 27, 2016, 02:39:34 PM
Another recommendation for the Heynis/van Beinum version.
I like my vinyl so I might try to track down the Sinclair/Boult version too.
Thank you for that.
Here's Sinclair/Boult
https://play.google.com/store/music/album/Monica_Sinclair_Brahms_Symphony_No_3_Boult_1954?id=Bfhdoayqlcm47s4dyj5sci7eoju
Quote from: Mandryka on February 28, 2016, 02:50:05 AM
Here's Sinclair/Boult
https://play.google.com/store/music/album/Monica_Sinclair_Brahms_Symphony_No_3_Boult_1954?id=Bfhdoayqlcm47s4dyj5sci7eoju
Thank you very much for the link.
From the free access bit that I have heard it sounds taught and dramatic and one that I would definitely be interested in purchasing.
Quote from: Mandryka on February 28, 2016, 02:50:05 AM
Here's Sinclair/Boult
https://play.google.com/store/music/album/Monica_Sinclair_Brahms_Symphony_No_3_Boult_1954?id=Bfhdoayqlcm47s4dyj5sci7eoju
Well, you were faster than I :)
Is the rest of the set (symphonies, ouvertures, Haydn variations) also available from this source?