Brahms 3rd Symphony
Fri, Mar 9 2012, 1:18AM
I was disappointed that in the comparative review in the new Gramophone Kempe did not even get an acknowledgement.
I know it was a selective discography but I, and I'm sure many others, think this is one of the greatest performances on disc.
Having said that I must say that it is the first time I've seen in print the link between this symphony and Schumann's 3rd, something that has been obvious to me since I bought recordings of both works all those years ago (guess what performance of the Brahms I bought, in stereo).
Fri, Mar 9 2012, 8:27AM
#2
RE: Brahms 3rd Symphony
Kempe's later recordings of all the Brahms symphonies with the Munich Philharmonic, still just about available on Arts Archives, are very good too: they have a real naturalness about them.
Sat, Mar 10 2012, 1:39AM
#3
RE: Brahms 3rd Symphony
Every time one of Kempe's Brahms recordings is reissued it gets praised to the skies. And then forgotten. Technically the recordings still sound pretty good, even the mono ones (symphony 2 and the Deutsches Requiem), certainly no worse than many of the old warhorses that continually get dusted off for comparisons. In its original manifestation on vinyl, symphony 3 actually had the worst recording, a shrill affair that made the Berlin Phil sound nothing like the Berlin Phil. The Testament cd does a far better job. Incidentally, the picture on that original vinyl issue was a strong candidate for the 'worst covers' thread, a murky picture of a waterlogged, home-made boat. In fact, now that I come to think about it all the covers of those Kempe vinyls were pretty hokey.
Regardless, the performances speak for themselves. Untouched in the past 50 years imho.
The original LP had a bust of the young Brahms. The waterlogged boat must have been a reissue.
Sun, Mar 11 2012, 8:04PM
#4
RE: Brahms 3rd Symphony
The waterlogged boat (dis)graced the cover of the HMV Concert Classics issue.
I was lucky enough to see Kempe conduct when he bought the Munich Phil to Liverpool, late 60s or early 70s. I can't recall the exact date but the concert itself is engraved in my memory: Haydn's Symphony 94, Hindemith's Metamorphoses on Themes by Weber, and after the interval, Brahms Symphony 1. As the last chords of the Brahms died, the audience sounded like the Kop after Ian St. John had just scored (this was back when Liverpool used to score goals). Our general rule after concerts at the Phil was to dash over the road for a quick one or three before catching the bus back to hall of residence but the Dutch lad who was one of our group said you'll have to excuse me lads, I need to walk home to get my head back after that. To this day it remains in my top 3 all-time concerts.
Mon, Mar 12 2012, 1:31AM
#5
RE: Brahms 3rd Symphony
Ah, Concert Classics.
I bought the white label, denoting stereo as opposed to the red label which was mono, His Masters Voice first issue and very expensive it was too!
The Garrard & Lofthouse cover was thick, laminated cardboard and the lp was, also, quite thick.
It was coupled with the Tragic overture.
I already had his sublime recording of the second but in mono.
Mon, Mar 12 2012, 2:38AM
#6
RE: Brahms 3rd Symphony
It still had the Tragic Overture coupling in its Concert Classics remanifestation. A far better recording than the symphony, for some reason.
I don't believe he ever did the 2nd in stereo until he came to his Munich cycle on BASF, of which I only have #4 - my least favourite of the cycle.
Every time one of Kempe's Brahms recordings is reissued it gets praised to the skies. And then forgotten. Technically the recordings still sound pretty good, even the mono ones (symphony 2 and the Deutsches Requiem), certainly no worse than many of the old warhorses that continually get dusted off for comparisons. In its original manifestation on vinyl, symphony 3 actually had the worst recording, a shrill affair that made the Berlin Phil sound nothing like the Berlin Phil. The Testament cd does a far better job. Incidentally, the picture on that original vinyl issue was a strong candidate for the 'worst covers' thread, a murky picture of a waterlogged, home-made boat. In fact, now that I come to think about it all the covers of those Kempe vinyls were pretty hokey.
Regardless, the performances speak for themselves. Untouched in the past 50 years imho.