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BRAHMS

The Four Symphonies

Bamberg Symphony Orchestra/Horst Stein
KOCH CLASSICS 3-1640-2 (4 CDs)
Crotchet   £29.95  Amazon UK   £32.99

On the face of it, not a very competitive set. Four discs, albeit at mid-price, one symphony per CD, no repeats, and no Brahmsian fillers in the form of the two overtures or St Anthony Variations. Despite this retail disadvantage, Horst Stein and his band have assembled a notable set.

These live performances recorded in July and September 1997 enjoy good sound which is well-balanced and naturally coloured. Stein's Bambergers are cultured musicians who know this music intimately and play with warmth of tone and unaffected expression. Stein himself presents readings that belong to the Klemperer and Kurt Sanderling school of conducting this music. Stein's tempi are consistently moderate but never droopy. He is a patient unfolder of Brahms's structures and musical arguments, and compels attention through his undemonstrative control and innate understanding of the music.

Stein's not one to rest his laurels on a sumptuous sound; instead he finds instrumental details in the undergrowth that often go unheard. Structurally, he always appreciates where the music is going and has an uncanny knack of knowing just when he needs to raise the emotional level. There's a thrilling inevitability about Stein's readings. He exposes the music lucidly and is consummately aware of nodal points.

These structurally cohesive, organic traversals of Brahms's Symphonies happily marry instrumental incident and passionate statement. A deeply satisfying set well worth investigating.

Reviewer

Colin Anderson

performance

sound


Reviewer

Colin Anderson

performance

sound


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