Brahms: Symphony No 4; Hungarian Dances Nos 2, 4-9

Advantages: Awesome playing and musicianship. Easy listening.
Disadvantages: Perhaps not for the 'purist' folk music lover.

...). There is something for everyone here, with some tracks being traditional Hungarian folksongs, some Lakatos’ own compositions, film-score themes and even adaptations of Brahms Hungarian Dances. Each track is played with conviction and sincerity and there truly is never a dull moment in this delightful box of tricks! I recommend it whole-heartedly. Track Listing: 1. Hungarian Dance No.5 (Brahms) 2. Deux Guitares (folksong) 3. Kallai lettos (Kodaly) 4. Czardas (Monti) 5. L'Aloutte (Dinicu) 6. Pour Valia (Lakatos) 7. Sabre Dance (Khachaturian) 8. Post Phrasing (Lakatos) 9. Ochi Chornyje (folksong) 10. Schindler's List (Williams) 11. Hungarian Dance No.6 (Brahms) 12. La Boheme (Plante-Aznavour) 13. Mr. Grapelli (Lakatos) My personal favourite tracks are Deux Guitares; which has some amazing instrumental effects, and Czardas which is electrifying... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Subtle, Expressive, Beautiful Performances
Disadvantages: Pricey but worth the cost

...Every classical music fan will probably have a collection of Brahm's four symphonies around somewhere, but for tonal clarity, poetic beauty and the milking of every orchestral and melodic subtlety I have heard no better than Karajan's rendition with the BPO. The first is clear and bright, with a truly haunting adagio and nice pace to the finale. There are other performances of the 2nd that I prefer, but this gave me new insights into the form, Karajan paying particular attention to crisply defined structure rather than over-Romanticising Brahms' score. The highlight, however, has to be the tumultuously powerful 4th symphony, in which both form and drama fuse marvellously, especially at the culminating final moments of the first and fourth movements. Forget the lower rate orchestral versions around the web, this is worth every penny... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Mutter's eloquence and sensitivity in older recording are enhanced here.
Disadvantages: None at all!

.... ********************* NOTE: To commenter #3, posted comment today, 27-8: the message I left in your gb, sir, should sufficiently clarify the situation. ---------------------------------- CD Notes: JOHANNES BRAHMS (1833 - 1897) Konzert für Violine und Orchester D-dur op. 77 Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D major 1 1. Allegro non troppo (22' 55) Cadenza: Joseph Joachim, rev. Ossip Schnirlin 2 2. Adagio (9' 20) 3 3. Allegro giocoso, ma non troppo vivace - Poco più presto (7' 55) ROBERT SCHUMANN (1810 - 1856) Fantasie für Violine und Orchester C-dur op. 131 Fantasy for Violin and Orchestra in C major Transcription: Fritz Kreisler 4 Moderato semplice ma espressivo - Allegro marcato - Molto tranquillo - Tempo primo - Cadenza - Molto tranquillo (13' 12) ANNE-SOPHIE MUTTER, Violine New York Philharmonic KURT MASUR Recorded Live at Lincoln Center... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful